Hard wired my radar detector today

"sefeing, actually bought an E46" (sefeing90) 08/17/2014 at 16:29 • Filed to: Radar, police, FoST, focus st, install

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easy install. Didn't have to even remove any trim or headliner, just snaked it around. Add a circuit made it simple too. It saved me a ticket today already! It's neat, kinda concealed with a small external mirror mounted display. Awesome for $180, especially since it apparently has the internals of one of the really popular Escort units. Crappy, unfocused pics for now. Will take better ones later.

ShelbyRacer78-Fusion Modifier > sefeing, actually bought an E46 08/17/2014 at 16:30

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I need to do this.

Slave2anMG > sefeing, actually bought an E46 08/17/2014 at 16:32

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Don't roll into Virginia with that arrangement. I used to run a Valentine 1...hid it up above my passenger visor w/ remote readout under the dash. Worked great even in Virginia....

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > sefeing, actually bought an E46 08/17/2014 at 16:35

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How well do radar detectors work? Considering getting one. Will cops get pissed if you *do* get pulled over and they see you with it?

VincentMalamute-Kim > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 08/17/2014 at 17:56

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They work. You can't just simply depend on the detector though. You have to be smart, paying attention, aware of the surroundings, etc. You can't accelerate to 100 when you pass the last car and it's open freeway before you like I did. I reacted fast enough to the laser warning on the Valentine 1 that the trooper told me his buddy said the laser gun wasn't working right, that it read 100 for an instant and then 70 the next instant. The smarter partner told him "Nope, he's got a laser detector" and he was looking for it while standing outside the door.

He saw the 3 inches of phone cord that the Valentine uses sticking up where the windshield meets the dash, asked me what that was and I didn't have the presence of mind to make up something. GPS units weren't available back then to say it was a GPS cord. He asked me for the detector and I gave him the Valentine's remote unit. He took it back to his car for some reason. He returned it though. Anyway, lots of money, points, lawyers, etc

I gave up the Valentine after that. I still speed but I try not to do it unless there's someone in front of me that I can follow. I'm looking for his brake lights to warn me of cops. It works better than the Valentine against laser. Laser detectors can only work on the same principle. It detects the stray laser coming off of the car that got targeted in front of you. It won't work if you're the one getting targeted.

I would argue my approach works better. No speeding tickets in the last 14 years even though I'm always going over on the freeways and sidestreets. *knock wood*

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > sefeing, actually bought an E46 08/17/2014 at 18:42

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In my state they're not illegal to have, but if you get pulled over for some other violation (aggressive lane changes and whatnot) and the cop sees a radar detector, it tends to reduce the probability of getting off with a warning.

My buddy had a nice one on his civic years ago, but eventually got a ticket for driving like an asshole. That detector probably saved his dozens of tickets though — dude just added 30mph to every listed speed limit

sefeing, actually bought an E46 > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 08/17/2014 at 19:31

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damn haha. AFAIK, they're okay in NY and CT, which is where I am most of the time. Luckily, I have family who is in law enforcement, so I've gotten very lucky with my PBA card. Hoping this will help me avoid awkward phone calls.