Has anyone's radar detector ever failed them?

[cs363]

Agree with Rider in Black, radar detectors are definitely not the licence to speed that some people appear to think they are. What they are good for is an extra pair of eyes that are constantly on (think how many tickets you have had when your day dreaming..)
It is possible to detect laser with a good detector, however what you will detect are the fragmented beams from when the laser is being aimed at other vehicles - if you are close range and in the beam you are screwed.
The cops can tell if you are using (some) detectors with radar detector- detectors built into their radar units (VG2 technology), though most top end detectors have anti-VG2 technology so in theory are undetectable. As far as I am aware NZ police do not have VG2 at this time.
Valentine's site (http://www.valentine1.com/home.asp) has loys of really good info regarding radar and laser and is well worth a browse, it will answer many of the questions asked here.
The best defense is of course to obey the speed limit, failing that pick your time and place and it's best not to travel at sustained high speeds.
Also, like most things in life there is no cheap fix - if you want a good detector buy the best - Valentine, Bel or Escort.
A bit of homework on the internet will back this up - time and again all these brands (despite any political leanings by magazines that may have advertising budgets on the line) these three brands are consistently rated at the top.

[Macstar]

You are even going to get demerits for having a detector:

Stop scaremongering. There is no law against laser jammers or radar detectors, nor is there likely to be now with the porposed law being reportedly scrapped.

[cs363]

Stop scaremongering. There is no law against laser jammers or radar detectors, nor is there likely to be now with the porposed law being reportedly scrapped.

Exactly what I was about to post - this was one of many proposed law changes put forward recently, but presently there has been no change - radar detectors are 100% legal as apparently are laser jammers (see Macstars post in the other thread on radar detectors)

Something to be aware of is increasingly reported cases of traffic officers not resetting the radar display and ticketing people for speeds previously recorded.
Yet another reason why every traffic ticket should be defended and go through the rigmarole of asking for the radar log book and other associated paperwork.
If nothing else you'll waste the cops day jumping through hoops, chasing paperwork and keep him off the road for a day. On the plus side if they can't present all requested paperwork to the court you are off free.

[doc]

Stop scaremongering. the porposed law being reportedly scrapped.

Fair enough, but their attitude is different if you have one onboard when the time comes.

[Macstar]

Fair enough, but their attitude is different if you have one onboard when the time comes.

Yeah, true that!

[Patrick]

Of course it only works effectively against the wankers who have their radar guns operating almost constantly, so you can pick them up a mile off.

That is not how most snakes do it.... on standby where there is no transmission, until they see something they like the look of, because it is low flying...

but there are only something like 14 laser guns in the entire country.

Wrong - there is one in most main towns, Auckland, Wellington and the like cities have more... Last time I looked there were more than 14 main towns in NZ....

The Stalker Dual radar the police uses here gives the operator two readings, one for the fastest target and one for the stronger target. I have to remember to look at both numbers if I get pulled over.

If ya get pulled, the locked speed is all you will see, in the middle, in red.

they can tell you have one only because ypur speed drops quickly for 'no reason' when you are tracked.

seen them lock it up "for no reason" - a giveaway for sure....

...a large bike has a large signal, so i would say given ideal conditions, about 2 second delay from standby, to tracking tone, to locking on.

Nope - much quicker....

The cops can tell if you are using (some) detectors with radar detector- detectors built into their radar units

Not in NZ... or New Plymouth at least...

[cs363]

Not in NZ... or New Plymouth at least...

Which is why the whole sentence read: The cops can tell if you are using (some) detectors with radar detector- detectors built into their radar units (VG2 technology), though most top end detectors have anti-VG2 technology so in theory are undetectable. As far as I am aware NZ police do not have VG2 at this time.

[Maha]

And then again, two days later, on the plains headed toward Taupo, riding over a crest into the setting sun and low forward visibility.
Here's another question: given the presumably-ideal situation of two vehicles headed directly toward each other at constant speeds, does anyone know how long the police radars take to lock onto the oncoming vehicle's speed once turned on?

Ah yes, an absolute speed trap in that area, no need for a radar thingamebob, what I would do in that situation , hypothetically speaking, is let the other guy take the rap, assuming there were two of ya locked on by he only needs one, yes I would keep on going
But what do I know, I wasn't there....

[cs363]

Fair enough, but their attitude is different if you have one onboard when the time comes.

Agreed, which is why on the few occasions I've been pulled over (both times in the car, at marginally over the limit) I have removed the detector from the screen before coming to a stop.
More difficult on a bike I know....

[Cr1MiNaL]

Get a second hand V1 euro model off tardme, expect to pay $500 or thereabouts, get a H.A.R.D $350 shipped and go stealth. It will never false, if it does go off and the target is distant, assume its there. It will never false. If u've been made, ull know it and best get out of there pronto! - and no I don't advocate running, just don't wait to find out.

[Stormer]

My Escort 8500 has saved me countless times.
Thing is though, now I`m really paranoid about riding on the open road without it.

[jrandom]

hypothetically speaking, is let the other guy take the rap, assuming there were two of ya locked on by he only needs one, yes I would keep on going

Yeah, hypothetically speaking, even when plod isn't latched onto one's own arse, one might feel that another kilometre or two of O. J. Simpson style 101kph-failure-to-stop with an increasingly-bemused snake behind you both could result in a fairly warm reception at the main intersection into town up ahead.

And one might think, fuckit, rather take the fall for a piss-arsey little ticket than some protracted legal hassle because nobody pulled over, everybody's plate got called through to comms and we all ended up in court charged with terrorism and treason or whatever it is you get charged with when you don't pull over.

[icekiwi]

I want one as well cause i'm walking for a few months too.....
Bastard radar guns!!!!

[jrandom]

Oh, heh. I just remembered.

"What would you have done if neither of us had stopped?", I asked the snake.

"Well, I would have arrested you both!"

I forbore to enquire how he would have managed that...

[Korumba]

Have 3M'ed mine. Seems ta keep it dry enough.

Is that Shields like they had on the Enterprise or Cloaking like the Klingons?