Best radar detector with arrows and red light camera alerts

[Slo Yelo C5]

So what's the best radar detector with arrows and speed camera/red light camera alerts?

My area is now starting to use red light cameras AND speed cameras. I don't want a bunch of BS tickets.

I used to have a Valentine One. Not joking, I bought it in around 2007. I still own it. It turns on, but doesn't seem to work correctly?

I know V1 used to let you mail it in for discounted upgrades. So they still do that? This unit was bought new, literally 20 years ago haha.

Or should I buy a Uniden R7?

[slewfoot]

I just bought a new car and the factory gps tells me within 1/4 mile of a speed camera.

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by slewfoot

I just bought a new car and the factory gps tells me within 1/4 mile of a speed camera.

I have older vehicles without those features, so that won't help.

[Big bob]

Download the waze app for free.

[Bill]

Be aware of your state's laws about obstructing your windshield. I read up on this when looking at dash cams. Most dash cams are intended to be stuck on the windshield.....illegal in Texas. Would it be a bullshit, ticky tack reason to stop someone? Yes, it would, nevertheless, it's an easy gimmee, an easy excuse to stop and fish.

If your state also criminalizes sticking anything on your windshield with a suction cup, your radar detector would have to be mounted to the headliner, or integrated with the rear view mirror, or mounted on the dash.

I used to drive with an obvious radar detector, cord hanging down, and later, had a GPS stuck to the windshield, too. Never was stopped for those, but learning that both are illegal kind of spooked me. Your state law may vary.

https://www.cars.com/articles/do-you...1420663115110/

[Vandelay Industries]

Originally Posted by Slo Yelo C5

So what's the best radar detector with arrows and speed camera/red light camera alerts?

My area is now starting to use red light cameras AND speed cameras. I don't want a bunch of BS tickets.

I used to have a Valentine One. Not joking, I bought it in around 2007. I still own it. It turns on, but doesn't seem to work correctly?

I know V1 used to let you mail it in for discounted upgrades. So they still do that? This unit was bought new, literally 20 years ago haha.

Or should I buy a Uniden R7?

If you get stopped, just start sobbing and telling the cop your life history. He'll let you go fast.

[Louie Detroit]

Just leave earlier and drive carefully, I just saved you the cost of a radar detector. YW.

[09CTSV]

I was running the Escort Max 360. It had red light and speed camera alerts. I upgraded to the Escort MaxCam 360 for the integrated dash cam and radar detector. It has the arrows, detects multiple bands and multiple radar signals. It has saved me twice with new speed/red light cameras in the area. I also have Sirius XM Guardian in the Hellcat and it works great as well.
The database for the red-light cameras is updated every week for the Escort.

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Be aware of your state's laws about obstructing your windshield. I read up on this when looking at dash cams. Most dash cams are intended to be stuck on the windshield.....illegal in Texas. Would it be a bullshit, ticky tack reason to stop someone? Yes, it would, nevertheless, it's an easy gimmee, an easy excuse to stop and fish.

If your state also criminalizes sticking anything on your windshield with a suction cup, your radar detector would have to be mounted to the headliner, or integrated with the rear view mirror, or mounted on the dash.

I used to drive with an obvious radar detector, cord hanging down, and later, had a GPS stuck to the windshield, too. Never was stopped for those, but learning that both are illegal kind of spooked me. Your state law may vary.

https://www.cars.com/articles/do-you...1420663115110/

I can't believe PA has a law against mounting anything on the windshield that "materially" obstructs the view of the driver. I don't think that law was codified in PA years Ago. Nice that they intentionally didn't define "materially" as to make it more difficult to defend against.

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by 09CTSV

I was running the Escort Max 360. It had red light and speed camera alerts. I upgraded to the Escort MaxCam 360 for the integrated dash cam and radar detector. It has the arrows, detects multiple bands and multiple radar signals. It has saved me twice with new speed/red light cameras in the area. I also have Sirius XM Guardian in the Hellcat and it works great as well.
The database for the red-light cameras is updated every week for the Escort.

Thanks!

How much is that unit? Where do you buy it?

How do you upgrade it weekly?

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by Vandelay Industries

If you get stopped, just start sobbing and telling the cop your life history. He'll let you go fast.

Now this is a great idea.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by Slo Yelo C5

I used to have a Valentine One. Not joking, I bought it in around 2007. I still own it. It turns on, but doesn't seem to work correctly?

Send it in to VR for an upgrade.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by Vandelay Industries

If you get stopped, just start sobbing and telling the cop your life history. He'll let you go fast.

My wife once got out of a ticket by crying. Seems like a natural solution for the OP.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Slo Yelo C5

I can't believe PA has a law against mounting anything on the windshield that "materially" obstructs the view of the driver. I don't think that law was codified in PA years Ago. Nice that they intentionally didn't define "materially" as to make it more difficult to defend against.

YouTube

YouTube

The blame goes to the lawmakers who write chicken shit, often vague laws that pretty much allow any cop to stop any motorist any time they feel like it.

Another one, at least in Texas, is the license plate frame. Got a dealer frame, maybe a college or sports team frame? Does it obscure any part of any lettering on the plate? Does it partially obstruct the wording "The Lone Star State" at the very bottom of the plate? Boom, easy crime to stop you for, and the majority of Texans have those on their plates. Window tint is another big one, license plate lights also. I've seen videos of cops stopping drivers saying, I couldn't see your plate from 50' away, even though the license plate lights were operational. That's really the scariest law on the books, because, how do you defend yourself from that? Your lights are working just as they came off the showroom floor, but "well, I couldn't see them from 50' away, so here I am stopping and interrogating you at night, by the side of the road.

Legislatures need to be concerned with repealing some of these laws.

[dvarapala]

Originally Posted by Slo Yelo C5

I can't believe PA has a law against mounting anything on the windshield that "materially" obstructs the view of the driver.

Back in the 80s in Illinois my friend got an "obstruction of the view" ticket for a roach clip with a giant feather that was clipped to his mirror.

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4_YJvaVHow


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MOJj8PQr0m0


The blame goes to the lawmakers who write chicken shit, often vague laws that pretty much allow any cop to stop any motorist any time they feel like it.

Another one, at least in Texas, is the license plate frame. Got a dealer frame, maybe a college or sports team frame? Does it obscure any part of any lettering on the plate? Does it partially obstruct the wording "The Lone Star State" at the very bottom of the plate? Boom, easy crime to stop you for, and the majority of Texans have those on their plates. Window tint is another big one, license plate lights also. I've seen videos of cops stopping drivers saying, I couldn't see your plate from 50' away, even though the license plate lights were operational. That's really the scariest law on the books, because, how do you defend yourself from that? Your lights are working just as they came off the showroom floor, but "well, I couldn't see them from 50' away, so here I am stopping and interrogating you at night, by the side of the road.

Legislatures need to be concerned with repealing some of these laws.

Not to get off topic, but EZ Pass, which they're trying to get everybody to have in PA, NJ, NY, etc....is arguably unlawful in PA as the statute is written.

But they'll let the EZ Pass unit get a pass while pulling you for radar detector.

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by dvarapala

Send it in to VR for an upgrade.

Will they upgrade a nearly 20 year old unit or mail me a new one?

What is the cost if they swap your 20 year old unit?

[Torqaholic]

Drove most of my early years one ticket away from a license suspension due to accumulated points. Paying tickets was never a big deal to me, no more expensive than buying a detector IMO.

Judging by the videos I see these days it's worth getting killed over? Hard to say since I either outgrew it or have been super lucky. Probably a little of both since I've only received a warning the last several times.

Disclaimer: Nothing is going to save you if you fail to avoid shithole states that prey on out of state tags.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Slo Yelo C5

Will they upgrade a nearly 20 year old unit or mail me a new one?

What is the cost if they swap your 20 year old unit?

Probably a quick call to their customer service number would answer that. I could see a high end company like Valentine doing something to help you, because it bolsters their brand. At minimum, you won't go badmouthing them, and more likely, you'll tell people and post on forums about the exceptional service you got from them, years and years after the sale.

You should probably write your legislators and demand that they outlaw the cameras. It really shouldn't even be a partisan issue. Everyone hates them.

Twitter

[Slo Yelo C5]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

Probably a quick call to their customer service number would answer that. I could see a high end company like Valentine doing something to help you, because it bolsters their brand. At minimum, you won't go badmouthing them, and more likely, you'll tell people and post on forums about the exceptional service you got from them, years and years after the sale.

You should probably write your legislators and demand that they outlaw the cameras. It really shouldn't even be a partisan issue. Everyone hates them.

https://twitter.com/GregAbbott_TX/st...ght-camera-ban

PA has very strict rules for red light cameras. I do appreciate that they're limiting their use.

Philly is allowed to run largely autonomous of PA law. It's insanity. I live just a few minutes from Philly. Philly now has red light cameras at probably 10% of all major intersections in the city. And the yellow lights are so short you're guaranteed to get a ticket now and again.

But PA will never tell Philly they need to get rid of their red light cameras. Never. They let Philly do anything they want.

My understanding is that PA allows open carry anywhere in PA, but Philly has a law superceding state law (how crazy is that?) saying open carry isn't allowed without Philadelphia County permits.

I think it's insanity that a city can overrule state law.