Miata Mailing List: December 1994, Message #232
sponsored by



     


   From: schertz@KMERL.Research.Panasonic.COM (Rick Schertz)
Subject: Re: radar detectors...
   Date: Thu, 8 Dec 1994 11:38:41 -0500


> back on the issue of what are the current 'hot' radar detectors - i KNOW the
> Valentine detector is 'best' :), but what about the lesser-priced models that
> were listed in that recent car magazine round-up?

The high end Bel placed 2nd by a distance in the review.  For me, the sound
volume was low (not good for a Miata, but when I've got my Clearwater 
cranked, I can't here it anyway...that's what the visual is for).  I paid
for the Valentine with laser, but the laser addition was probably a waste
for NC and being laser, I don't know if this'd help when I travel elsewhere.
Can anybody comment on this?  I really like the modular design and the RJ-11
(4-wire) cable used - you can hotwire yourself or stick on window.  I figure
I can wire or stick on any car I have, and use if for long highway drives -
can take along with rental car if I go that route.  But as it stands, this is
the kind of 'insurance' you're not sure if it'll pay off.  Especially since
it's no guarantee...see below:
 
> could someone tell me which magazine and issue the round-up was in.

Car & Driver over the summer (don't have photocopy here).  A quick
periodical search @ the library will locate it.

As we all know, radar detectors are FAR from foolproof.  The intent should
be to avoid unnecessary tickets - e.g. "whoops didn't recall that the
speed limit dropped", or your car humms along on the road so well and you
didn't wanna press the brakes so you were 10mph over, or you're passing
through a subdivision where there's a speed trap and the limit is 25mph, 
but you didn't have a clue.

Last Sat evening, me, my girlfriend, and my (two?) month-old Valentine
got pulled cruising down a favorite sideroad.  Sheriff's deputy.  I was
surprised to see a car coming up on my tail as my needle was @ appx 65mph.
The speed limit is 45mph on this fun road.  Not a peep from the detector
of course since he didn't use radar (this was also at night on a winding
road so he wasn't timing me).   Just pulled on pace.  

Usual discourse: Can I see your driver's license and registration?  Fumble
for registration 'cause it's not in the car but I thought it was.  Give
him driver's license. How fast were you going?  60mph (classic shave of
5mph).  He said I was going 70mph.  Really?  Wow, didn't think I was going
that fast.  (This was true, I thought I was going 65.)  The speed limit is
45mph.  Typical delay while he pulls up record w/o registration number.

Quick update on North Carolina politics...'Booze It And Lose It' campaign
currently going on.  I wasn't boozed up (two beers during the course of
the movie 'Clerks' - I was legal).  I think they're stopping the campaign
already since MANY people have been pulled and a handful have been 
or family/children of well-knowns.  For example, Dean Smith's son was just
one mentioned recently.  DUI is 13pts on your license.  OUCH!  Basically,
you don't drive or you pay a LOT of insurance.

Eventually, he comes back.  Did you know this'd be 5 points on your record?
5 points?  Wow.  Really?  (Again, a surprise to me.  I'm used to hearing
2 points for 10mph over or whatever.)  Have you been convicted of speeding
before?  No.  Ever?  Oh, yes, but not for a long time.  (3 years or more
being a long time...though I paid a fine in IL this summer for speeding
but got 3mo probation and would not be visible to NC records.  BTW, the previous
catch in IL was one of those unnecessary bogus speed trap tickets that prompted
a radar detector purchase.  This catch was speeding, of course.  I knew that
and expected a ticket then to go on my merry way and get the speed reduced
in court, avoid points due to good record, and pay a larger fine - cops get
more $$ and insurance doesn't...this is the good 'ole law as we know it.)

Well, keep an eye on your speed.  He gave me back my driver's license.

He let me go!  It was destiny.  It was my wake-up call to remind me what
I already knew -- the radar detector wasn't going to be foolproof -- and hence
I should drive accordingly. Again, I think the laser component is
probably a waste (moreover since I don't think NC uses laser -- I'll just
get an occasional annoying false laser unless I take it on travel in which
case if it goes off, I'm probably busted anyway...can anybody refute this?).
But now that I paid for it, I don't see myself trading/returning for w/o
laser.  I could return it completely, but I'll probably keep it with the
hopes that the $400 USD (ouch, we say) will payoff even if it prevents just
one 'accidental' ticket.  This time I was speeding, and busted w/o radar/laser.
And I was  fortunate with the outcome.  Speed enough and you'll get
busted.  Drive safely within decent range of the limit and a detector should
pay for itself.  Drive like grandma and you're wasting your money on a 
detector.

Sorry, I just can't drive like grandma in my miata.

Rick Schertz
Silver '91A (one of 10,800-something)