To Wako radar detectors are legal in all states as far as I know. They are just frowned upon by cops, and some may try to give you some kind of ticket or fine for it.

 

In the United States as of November 2008, radar detectors are completely legal to use in non-commercial vehicles in all states except in Virginia and in the District of Columbia. Radar detectors may not be used in any commercial motor vehicle in any state.

 

I guess I've got to agree with that one. I'm 52 and don't drive nearly as fast as I used to. I have a Valentine One in the truck and love it, but nothing in the car. If I'm in a real hurry, I always make sure (in either vehicle) never to speed without somebody "blocking" for me. Let them get the tickets. If I'm all alone, I'll run 74 max in a 65 zone and slower if conditions dictate. In all of my years of driving (knock on wood), I've never received a speeding ticket. I do think the New York State Sheriffs Association stickers on both of my vehicles have helped though. Although I've never been ticketed, I didn't say I've never been pulled over.

 

Hey 2Stroked: where in Rochester? I grew up in Rush, RH class of '73.

 

A former student of mine is a Ohio State Highway Patrolamn. He said that, while radar detectors are legal in Ohio, if you get pulled over and the LEA sees it, most likely any chance for a warning has just gone bye-bye.

Tim C.

 

Yep in Virginia you will get a nice fat ticket and most troopers will confiscate your detector if you are using it.

Signs at state lines warn you....
Anyone can possess a detector it but when you use it they will get you.
They electronically know when you have it on.

 

X2. I've been able to "detect" cops before my detector ever did in my Pontiac just by paying attention to the traffic in front of you (on BOTH sides on the highway) and being aware of my surroundings.
It's still sitting on my workbench, haven't put it in the FX4, and its been almost 8mos.

This is why I always carried a stamped envelope, addressed back to myself in CT when I visited family or passed thru VA. Only had to take it down and get the envelope sealed once... and boy was the cop p-i-s-s-e-d!

 

That means if you got commercial plates on your truck, that means you CAN'T have one!

An acquaintance of mine got in to a big tizzy about this and got in lots of trouble...

 

The Valentine V1 is the best radar detector on the market period. Check out their website and YouTube has a bunch of vids too.

If you do a lot of long distance travel a CB radio would be a nice thing to have, you can just call ahead to truckers to check for cops. They're usually pretty cool.

 

I have the 8500 X50 Passport. I don't know the difference between X50 and non X50. Mine has picked up cops a few miles away and around corners.

You can't go wrong with the 8500 or Valentine V1 end of story.

-Curtis-

 

I dont know about that. One of my friend's has a Valentine v1, and the other has a passport x50. We put them both in the same car side by side and tested them 1 on 1.

They both performed nearly the same. The one cool thing about the Valentine is that it tells you from what direction it is picking up the signal, the escort doesn't. However, the escort would always go off a split second earlier, and picked it up around turns and over hills better.

Both are great. But looking at the price difference, the escort is the best value.

I personally dont have a radar detector though. I dont need one, i drive the speed limit. Still have yet to get a ticket to this day, and the only time i've ever been pulled over was for offroading on private property when i was 16. The cop laughed and told me to go home and wash the truck.

 

I live in beautiful lakeside Charlotte. (OK, so that's what the tourist information says.) Graduated from Greece Olympia HS in 1974. Small world.

 

CB i forgot about that one. on my two trips from illinois to atlanta and back. the cb saved me much more than the Passport ever did. i would usually hear about them at least 5 miles ahead of time. they are cheaper too...

 

I highly recomend to quit bragging about no tickets, I used to do that till last March, I think it was.

Also, there is not much true wood to knock on anymore

 

Also quit bragging about no accidents either... I think the more you brag, the more chances it will come out and bite you when you least expect it to.

There is NO wood in my truck, other than the 2x4's in my bed... but yup, less and less wood, and more and more plastic. So I'd assume if plastic came before wood, it'd be "knock on plastic"....