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Radar detectors

G

Guest

Guest
Hi Guys
I have been looking at Ebay today and seen a radar detector. So as usual I
go to the people I trust sorry but its you lot.
In the UK is it legal to operate one of these.
If its illlegal to operate one what happens when you get caught if you get
caught.
I am thinking of getting one so I get to keep my licence after my double
drive through camera hell which is the UK I believe.
In Ireland its illegal to own or operate one of these detectors thats whty
im asking.
If it is powered off is it still detectable by the detector detectors.
Thanks
John C
92HDJ 80 1HDT Ireland
 
John
Radar and laser detectors are legal at present in England and Wales, but not Scotland.
The government were planning to ban the radar detectors, but the bill didn't make it before the general election. However they are likely to be banned within about 18 months when the bill is reintroduced.
The GPS-based ones will continue to be legal. The reason given is that (because of cost!) not all camera sites are occupied all the time, and a radar detector allows a driver to whizz past an empty camera site without slowing down, whereas a GPS-based system will make him slow down because he won't know whether or not it is active.
So you pays your money and you takes your choice. If you want to speed then probably a radar-based one is a better short-term bet, but if you want to obey limits and simply not get caught out then get a GPS one.
Incidentally the laser detectors are generally taken to be useless: by the time they detect something you've probably been nabbed anyway. And I have never heard of a a radar "detector detector" - I wouldn't have thought it was feasible. (TV detectors work by picking up the intermediate frequency needed to decode the TV signal, but no such decoding is required for a radar detector. How cat detectors work I couldn't say ... note now obligatory reference to Monty Python.)
Christopher Bell

| I have been looking at Ebay today and seen a radar detector.
| So as usual I
| go to the people I trust sorry but its you lot.
| In the UK is it legal to operate one of these.
| If its illlegal to operate one what happens when you get
| caught if you get
| caught.
| I am thinking of getting one so I get to keep my licence
| after my double
| drive through camera hell which is the UK I believe.
| In Ireland its illegal to own or operate one of these
| detectors thats whty
| im asking.
| If it is powered off is it still detectable by the detector detectors.
|
| Thanks
| John C
|
| 92HDJ 80 1HDT Ireland
|
| --
| European Land Cruiser Owners Mailing List
| Further Info: http://www.landcruisers.info/lists/
|
 
John,
I'd be surprised if its illegal to own one.
Its likely to be illegal to operate on in a car.
Quite a difference but if u have on in a car and u're it turned off how can
they prove u had it turned on an operating?
Are u guilty until proven innocent or v.v?
Most of the new radar detectors have 'cloaking' capability so they can't be
seen by the cops. However thats a cat-n-mouse game in that next year the
cops will have a newer radar detector detector (RDD) and u'll have to wait a
few months and then upgrade to the next version of radar detector.
I know in my previous drives around IRL (I'm talking many years back) the
Gardai did not have any radar DD capability and my RD worked pretty good
then (used to drive a faster car then and not an 80). Often ran outa road b4
I hit my top speed (which is easily understandable based on IRL roads in the
past). Anyway I digress.
I'd check online for IRL specifics on the law regd. do's and don't and
possible penalty points.
If u're stopped and flagged down
1) is your RD in a hard to spot position for a Gardai to 'see' it as u whizz
by them
2) can u unhook it (and any assoicated wiring?) and 'hide' it pretty quick
and without obvious subvertive moves
I don't think they can search your car without due cause (but maybe u look
like an IRA fugitive!)
Note: a RD is useless if u are the only car doing 90mph and u're the first
car that gets blipped by the cops. If u're behind some else thats getting
blipped up ahead thats when its of benefit.
U also will get plenty of 'false' readings (garage openers, auto door
openings in shops, traffic light sensors etc.). That depends on model, what
u pay, reviews, etc.. These u can 'learn' where over time but then the
issue is u can get to ignore them and it happens a cop is just a little up
the road ....
All RD require learning what their sensitivity is. The biggest issue is
being able to know the real thing (cops) and compare that against the false
readings u'll get. BUT how do u get those real readings? - unless u know a
specific trap location and keep driving by to guage it, but they might get
suspicous after the 5th time of seeing your truck!
U have to weigh up the risks v's the gains.
I'd say get a cheap one and try it out for awhile.
I can send u my one to try out-if u like. I've actually changed my driving
habit over the years (declining age and increasing gar prices!) so with the
80 (as its not super/turbo-charged and at 5500ft up) its no sports machine.
Lal
-----Original Message-----
From: [Email address removed]
[mailto:[Email address removed]]On Behalf Of john byrne
Sent: Saturday, May 14, 2005 11:32 AM
To: [Email address removed]
Subject: [ELCO] Radar detectors
Hi Guys
I have been looking at Ebay today and seen a radar detector. So as usual I
go to the people I trust sorry but its you lot.
In the UK is it legal to operate one of these.
If its illlegal to operate one what happens when you get caught if you get
caught.
I am thinking of getting one so I get to keep my licence after my double
drive through camera hell which is the UK I believe.
In Ireland its illegal to own or operate one of these detectors thats whty
im asking.
If it is powered off is it still detectable by the detector detectors.
Thanks
John C
92HDJ 80 1HDT Ireland
 
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