Should I Buy a Radar Detector?
You’re driving along on the Interstate keeping up with the flow of traffic and suddenly in your rearview mirror you see flashing blue and red lights of a trooper who wants YOU to pull over.
Glancing down at your speedometer you realize that even though you were keeping up with the traffic and keeping a safe distance between you and the other drivers, you were driving far above the posted speed limit.
Off to the side of the road, you glance into your side view mirror watching the officer walking up to your car and you start rolling down your window trying to think out your excuse.
Fumbling reaching for your wallet the officer asks, “Do you know why I pulled you over?”
You reply “I was just keeping up with the flow of traffic officer” explaining if you would had been doing the posted speed limit that you felt that you would had been impeding the flow of traffic, ultimately putting other drivers at risk.
Now with your driver’s license, registration and insurance card in hand the officer walks back to his car.
Chances are 15 years ago when I was a cop, as long as your driver’s license, registration and insurance card all checked out, I would have exited my patrol car and given you a stern warning to slow down and sent you on your way.
However with today’s tough economic times there has been a tremendous amount of pressure on traffic enforcement officers to issue speeding tickets when before they would had given you a break.
So today, the officer walks back to your car with his citation book and hands you a speeding ticket.
Along with your ticket the officer also hands you an envelope addressed to the local court with a fine schedule.
Checking the schedule you see that this ticket perhaps will cost you $150.
But is this your actual cost of the citation?
Once you pay your fine the courts enter into the state’s public record database that you’ve pleaded guilty to speeding.
Next your insurance agency will be notified and use it as justification to raise your auto insurance up to 10% for the next 5 years.
Doing the math, this 1 traffic ticket cost you in excess of $2500 over the next 5 years.
Add this all up you realize that a good radar detector would had been a fraction of this amount while also saving you time and aggravation of going to court and even the embarrassment of being pulled over.
A good radar detector such as the Escort 8500 X50 or the Bel RX65 your investment will be around $299.
Or if you want the added features of being alerted to all those photo enforcement cameras, your investment for the Escort 9500ix will be around $499.
However, if you’re like me and want to save money, consider signing up for my private offers and deals using the form to the top right and/or download my free eBook on How to Choose the Right Radar Detector.
As a member of my private radar detector community you will receive e-mail from me immediately that will contain a members only discount.
And please don’t worry, I will not spam you with worthless junk as I hate spam as much as you do.
If you have any comments or question please consider using the comment area below this article, which I check on a daily basis.
6 Responses to “Should I Buy a Radar Detector?”
Comments
Read below or add a comment...
I drive a escort vehicle, when I escort a load we do the speed limit or below. When I’m finished with the load I am in the process of going to another location to pick up the load several hundred miles away. I used interstates when I do this. I’m looking at purchasing a Valentine one radar detector. I do not need a lot of extra functions on the radar. Please comment
@ william Couple questions 1st. Do you drive in Virginia or Washington DC? If so you would want a detector that would be stealth to the Spectre RDD. And as an escort, having an undetectable unit would something important to consider. The V1 is detectable.
Sometimes in Virginia I escort, the direction from where the radar is coming from that might be my strongest point. What would you prefer?
@ william if you’re driving in Virgina with a V1 escorting a truck you’re sure to be pulled over and given a ticket! Radar detectors are illegal in VA and the Va troopers use the Spectre. You would need a radar detector that is stealth and can beat the Spectre such as the Escort Redline, the Bel STi, the Escort 9500ci. My $$$ would be on the Redline as you’re on the Hwy.
Roy, which detector has the better I/O, Redline or V1?
I would have to use it. The 90-100% protection against Laser speedcamera.. Help guide me. I have used several models. But it did not work. BELTRONICS BEL VECTOR 995, WHISTLER PRO-78 SE, WHISTLER xtr-695
for thailand
Thank you.
http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/265/camarat.jpg/