Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

[Harrison]

I've ran 2 different detectors for the past couple months, and i havnt had a problem with cops detecting them. The first one i bought was a bel995, very good high end detector. I found out i could get a better one for cheaper so i sold that one to my friend and got a bel rx65. Now this detector is incredible. I have atleast a mile or 2 advance warning. Anyhow, the guy i sold my vector to got a ticket yesterday from a state trooper for having a radar! He got a ticket and the trooper took the radar. The detector wasn't in plain sight either (ie. mounted up on the windshield) he had it mounted down on his dash where it was hidden unless you were looking down on his car. He picked up the troopers radar too, and he wasn't even speeding. He asked the cop how he knew he had a radar detector and he told him his radar detecter, detecter picked it up. The trooper was running something called a spectre mkIII. This honestly blows my mind, because that detector was a very high end model and had protection against detector/detectors(vg-2). I guess the police in Va finally got one step ahead? He was on the interstate too (i-95) when he got pulled. I would assume only the troopers would have this device? Im sure it is quite expensive for county/city departments to have. The bel pro rx65 i have now is supposed to be completely stealth, but i wouldnt put my money on it anymore.

[Shodown]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

I used to live in Leesburg VA, and it was pretty well known that radar detectors are HIGHLY illegal. And yes, the cops are usually one step ahead of stealth radar detectors and they can pick you up way before your detector picks them up. I had 2 buddies get caught with them and had to pay huge fines.

Word to the wise...DONT USE RADAR DETECTORS IN VIRGINIA!!

[Loochy88]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

interesting, but im not from VA.

This got me wondering on the laws, so if anyoneelse is curious:

CURRENT STATE LAWS:

If any state restricts, bans, or otherwise regulates the use of RADAR-detectors in some way or another, it will be listed below, and there will be a link to the actual text of the law for that state. IF THERE IS NO CURRENTLY KNOWN LAW, THE STATE WILL NOT BE LISTED.

NOTE: The blinking "UPDATED" icon indicates that a law has either been updated or at least checked/verified for currency, regardless of whether the law has actually changed or not.


District of Columbia (Washington, D.C.) - (1995 law, still effective 2003) - RADAR-detectors are illegal.

Illinois - (2002 law) - Not regulated in passenger vehicles, but they are illegal used in commercial motor vehicles over 26,001 pounds (which is redundant legislation, since Federal law already makes that illegal in any U.S. state for vehicles over TEN-thousand pounds, anyway; BUT, some states like to have it in their lawbooks so that they can charge added fines and penalties that would go to the state).

Minnesota - (2002 law) - Radar detectors not specifically regulated, BUT - hanging things from windshields not permitted. If one were to put two and two together, then this would supposedly include radar-detectors if they were hung from the windshield. However, I suppose one could also infer that they would be okay if simply rested upon the top of the dashboard. The law does not specify that it is not. So...

New York - (2002 law) - For motor vehicles over 18,000lbs, and any other commercial vehicle over 10,000lbs, RADAR-detectors are illegal. [This is already covered by Federal law, as well.]

Virginia - (2002 law) - Use is illegal.

[HokieBird]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

I've heard of the detector detectors before. In theory my V1 will shut down if I'm hit by one, but I don't run it in VA or DC anyway. I have also heard that your friend will get his detector back after he goes to court, but I'm not sure of that so let me know. In Nothern VA there are a lot of county cops who have detector detectors, but I'm sure it's less of an issue down by you.

[camaro_speedemon]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

Thats why you hide it, and if you see a cop hit you with radar or a radar detector detector, throw it in your console so it's out of site.

[Harrison]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

they will search your car if it isnt present when they walk up to the vehicle. im pretty sure they have the ability to do it to with Va's rediculous laws. They take it pretty serious. The thing i can't really figure out how it singles a car out. I would assume it would only work if you were the only car around. Yeah, ive heard of ones that shut down. I looked into that detector-detector more and that thing is crazy. It will pick you up before you pick it up. They seem to be quite expensive though, so i feel that county/city police wont have them, unless some of the cars are strictly traffic/highway patrol. Where i live, we have a lot of motorcycle cops that hide in the most discrete places and they have the handheld radar gun just waiting to get someone. :( haha the county next to mine has a lamborgihni or however you spell that nice italian crap, and they use it for speeders on the interstate. now that is some overkill.

[camaro_speedemon]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

they will search your car if it isnt present when they walk up to the vehicle. im pretty sure they have the ability to do it to with Va's rediculous laws. They take it pretty serious. The thing i can't really figure out how it singles a car out. I would assume it would only work if you were the only car around. Yeah, ive heard of ones that shut down. I looked into that detector-detector more and that thing is crazy. It will pick you up before you pick it up. They seem to be quite expensive though, so i feel that county/city police wont have them, unless some of the cars are strictly traffic/highway patrol. Where i live, we have a lot of motorcycle cops that hide in the most discrete places and they have the handheld radar gun just waiting to get someone. :( haha the county next to mine has a lamborgihni or however you spell that nice italian crap, and they use it for speeders on the interstate. now that is some overkill.

They can't single you out if your driving in a pack of cars. Just like a radar can't single you out in a pack of cars. If there were cars around you, you can probably take the ticket to court and get it thrown out. From what I've heard, detector detectors are very unreliable.

[HokieBird]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

You would have to be the only car on the road or randomly brake for him to figure out it's you. On a note for non VA residents it's illegal for you to even have a radar detector within the reach of the driver or anywhere near a power source. So, if a cop finds one in your car you are probably getting a ticket and won't be able say you weren't using it or something like that in court.

Fairfax, cops do have detector detectors. There is more money than people know what to do with up here (no I don't have any of it). I just saw a F430 at giant and an F50 about 3 weeks ago. It's not uncommon.

[Harrison]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

i mean, lets be honest, if your running a radar detector in Va, your running it for a particular reason.....and the odds are the people that use them are going to have a car that is particularly fast. In other states people with camrys, tercels, taurus...and so on use them, but there is a verrrrrry low probability that a car like that is running one here in Va. I beleive if the detector/detector picks up a radar detector in a group of traffic, i would be compelled to say that the cop would have a very high probability in picking out the particular car. No other state uses detector-detectors, and if they do, its a complete waste of tax money. VA will use tax money to get the best product out there to enforce their stiff a$$ law. If they dont use the best equipment to enforce the law and make a point, then whats the purpose in having the law all together if you cannot enforce it? that would be like wiping before you crap, just makes no sense? They believe they are, "saving lives and reducing traffic accidents". I wish i could find data on how many speeding tickets virginia gives out, if that data is even possible to find, because im sure the state rakes in a ton of revenue through these tickets. I don't know what the laws about speeding are in other states, but here it is a 60$ fine to begin with, then each mile per hour you were over the spend limit is 10$. That fine adds up quick. and about fairfax....my sister lives up there around fair oaks, and they do have a ton of money. All the senators, delegates, pentagon workers, anyone in the 3 goverment branches, professional atheltes, and all the people that work in DC usually live in Fairfax or Arlington. Everytime im up there i usually see atleast a few exotic cars on I-66. Fairfax neighborhoods are like little towns in themselves, everything is uniform. Looks like Pleasantville, haha.

['98 BlackBird]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

As radar detectors are illegal in the state of Virginia, Washington DC, in most commercial vehicles and in many parts of the world, there have been devices to detect radar detectors called Radar Detector Detectors (RDD). As all radar detectors leak a small amount of signal these RDD's are able to pick this up and alert the officer. The first RDD units were called VG-2. VG-2 looked for leakage within the 11 to 11.4 Ghz band. Soon after, radar detector companies began using oscillators that were of higher frequency, thereby defeating VG-2. The newest threat is the Spectre. The Spectre is manufactured by Stealth Micro Systems in Queensland, Australia. The Spectre not only looks for leakage in the 11 Ghz. band, but also covers the 13 -15 Ghz bands.

VA troopers are now using Spectre III. unfortunately there is only one detector so far that is undetectible: the Bel STi but because of back orders of this item, new orders are not being accepted at this time.

[HokieBird]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

and about fairfax....my sister lives up there around fair oaks, and they do have a ton of money. All the senators, delegates, pentagon workers, anyone in the 3 goverment branches, professional atheltes, and all the people that work in DC usually live in Fairfax or Arlington. Everytime im up there i usually see atleast a few exotic cars on I-66. Fairfax neighborhoods are like little towns in themselves, everything is uniform. Looks like Pleasantville, haha.

That's funny your sister lives by fair oaks. I'm like 2 blocks from the mall. Small world...

The neighborhoods do all look the same. Probably just to cram as many houses together as quickly as possible.

[Fbody3400]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

I've seen about 7 Ferraris in my days lol

[Harrison]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

yeah man, the spectreIII is no joke. Virginia also monitors speeders by aircraft too! Is that common in other states besides Va? The commonwealth of Virginia is an extreme conservative piece of crap. haha came across this webpage on another forum today too. It is quite amusing, and they make some really good points. http://www.stoptheban.org

[lambo101]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

Thats why you hide it, and if you see a cop hit you with radar or a radar detector detector, throw it in your console so it's out of site.

no, it's best to wait until the cop is next to your window before doing anything. cops want to see your hands. if you reach into your console before the cop gets to your window, the cop might think your going for a weapon, and shoot you. would you rather be fined or shot?

[MrCoffee]

Re: Anyone in Va with radar detectors? Interesting news.

if a cops coming up behind you how are they going to see your hands? and further more no police officer if going to shoot you just because they see you messing with your center console. You could be getting your license and registration. Lets keep it realistic here.
And to be honest, if radar detectors were legal I'd have one. And I'd also feel more comfortable speeding. which would mean I'd probably make my speed more than the posted speed limit further than I do now. Like reckless territory.