So I got 2 speeding tickets last month. I definitely can't afford any more. My insurance went from $53.17 a month to $66.88 a month. That's just liability insurance. I'm not driving like an ass. I'm not weaving in and out of traffic. Both tickets were in low to no traffic areas. Road conditions were fair both times. One was a 78 in a 55 and the other was a 71 in a 55. The 78 in a 55 I was in my vehicle. 80 Pontiac Firebird. I was on my way back from a party, slightly hung over. The other was in my Dad's Durango, my car was broken. I was late for work.

I'm looking to buy a radar detector, but I don't want to spend much more than the price of two tickets. roughly $200 at the most. Anyone have any suggestions for a decent radar detector that'd work in semi-hilly areas and on curvy roads?

Time to do some homework:

http://www.guysoflidar.com

how would one get one here, and install it in a concealed spot, if they're illegal to have in the car?

dont bother. cover up your plates.

tampering with your plates is a $60 fine in NSW IIRC. the cheapest speeding ticket is still double that

In the USA, It's only illegal in one state, Which I believe is Virginia. BUT in Commercial vehicles and vehicles over 10,000 pounds it is a federal offense to have a radar detector installed.

Cops have radar detector detectors that listen for the local oscillator in the radar detector. That said many modern radar detectors use unusual local oscillator frequencies to minimize the chance of being picked up by a radar detector detector. Furthermore some radar detectors have built in a radar detector detector detector that will shut down the radar detector when a radar detector detector is found.

Radar detector detectors cannot detect a radar detector at anywhere near the range a radar detector can detect radar.

Cops also use lidar which cannot always be detected.

What Mr Smith said is best. The problem is that you are more likely to get caught with obscured plates and cops often pursue fast motorists so they will get caught anyway.

Rather than chucking mud on the plates, use an electronic curtain. You may have seen some modern shower curtains that turn opaque at the flick of a switch. They use liquid-crystal technology. It may sound expensive, but it will probably be about $100.

Cops have radar detector detectors that listen for the local oscillator in the radar detector. That said many modern radar detectors use unusual local oscillator frequencies to minimize the chance of being picked up by a radar detector detector. Furthermore some radar detectors have built in a radar detector detector detector that will shut down the radar detector when a radar detector detector is found.

Radar detector detectors cannot detect a radar detector at anywhere near the range a radar detector can detect radar.

Cops also use lidar which cannot always be detected.

What Mr Smith said is best. The problem is that you are more likely to get caught with obscured plates and cops often pursue fast motorists so they will get caught anyway.

Rather than chucking mud on the plates, use an electronic curtain. You may have seen some modern shower curtains that turn opaque at the flick of a switch. They use liquid-crystal technology. It may sound expensive, but it will probably be about $100.

good idea.

on a side note,
how much to install those license plate swappers?
the ones that rotate like in those movies.

is it even doable?

thats stupid. unless you can do the work yourself, alot.

there are license plate covers that are tinted. You can see them normally but when a camera tried to photograph the plate it just gets a reflection.

http://www.guysoflidar.com/radar-detector-laser-jammer-shootout-2005/spectre-rdd-test.html

interesting article on radar detector detectors
i really want a valentine one, and a remote display like this
http://uploader.ngsthings.com/files/1/s4%20pics/adr_v1.jpg
its called the adr one or something like that, it uses the audi factory DIS (mine is like that except its the a4 one, so the colors are a little different, but the display is the exact same color lcd) works the same way as the valentine one display, and ultra stealth

Only superhetrodyne receivers could be picked up. I wonder if anyone produces passive receivers?

You may have seen some modern shower curtains that turn opaque at the flick of a switch. They use liquid-crystal technology. It may sound expensive, but it will probably be about $100.

Is that bullshit? I googled a bit just to check :o, and can't find nothing.

How about you just slow down. you will hit two bird with on stone. you will save gas and you wont get tickets.

Is that bullshit? I googled a bit just to check :o, and can't find nothing.

I remember seeing one at a hotel on TV. After 5 seconds of searching I found this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smart_glass


Speeding can save you money. Traveling at 40km/h is very inefficient. By traveling at 70km/h you will save money.

Speeding can save you money. Traveling at 40km/h is very inefficient. By traveling at 70km/h you will save money.

And where does that logic come from? it is always been said that anything over 65mph causes the mpg to go down as the speed goes up.

There is a business out there that sells number plate covers that turn opaque electronically!!! http://www.hideaplate.com/

And where does that logic come from? it is always been said that anything over 65mph causes the mpg to go down as the speed goes up.

I didn't say 65mph. In NSW we have plenty of back streets that are now 40km/h (ie 24.86mph). When a vehicle is stationary it is getting 0 mpg. So as speed increases (to an extent) mpg increases.

Air resistance increases parabolically so at some point there will be an optimum speed. For most cars the optimum is 40-50mph.

I didn't say 65mph. In NSW we have plenty of back streets that are now 40km/h (ie 24.86mph). When a vehicle is stationary it is getting 0 mpg. So as speed increases (to an extent) mpg increases.

Air resistance increases parabolically so at some point there will be an optimum speed. For most cars the optimum is 40-50mph.

Ok i see. i am not keen on the kilometer conversion. But i thought you were basically saying the faster you go the better the mpg. And you are right that is generally what they say 40--50 and anything above 65 the mpg goes down as the speed increases.

Get a Beltronics RX-65, or an Escort Passport 8500 X50.

Same internals. Great detector. $200 price tag is doable.

I have an Escort Passport 9500i with the built in GPS shit. It's definitely worth it to have a good detector.

It's saved my ass countless times. I often pick up cops before I crest hills or round corners.

The best ticket prevention is a good detector + your own awareness.

Go read the guide I just made, out of the blue.

http://www.totse.com/community/showthread.php?p=10663914#post10663914

There's a section about radar detectors at the bottom. The entire guide isn't bad either, if I may say so.

For most cars the optimum is 40-50mph.

Thiiiiiis.

Why do so many people try to tell me their optimum is like 100mph, when I say speeding wastes fuel?

my optimum is 100 mph.

my car however, that's a completely different story

+1 for the Passport 8500 X50

It has saved me thousands and thousands in potential tickets over the years. On long flat roads trafficless roads it will pick up cops 2 miles before you pass them. It also picks up cops corners all the time. I won't drive anywhere without it.

Using one of the electrochromatic plate covers is essentially useless unless you're talking about running through a speed camera. Because if a real police officer sees a blocked plate like that, he will damn well pull you over before any run of the mill speeder.. The only time it's good to have when dealing with a real cop is if you plan to outrun said cop.


And for the record, my Mark VIII's best fuel economy is observed around 70mph.