Choose your weapon: Electronic countermeasures - what is in your arsenal?

[*89x2*]

This past weekend, I drove a little over 2,000 miles without drama. This may have been in part, due to paying close attention - or it may have been my "electronic angels"

When travelling, what do you use to "protect" yourself from a potential ambush?? hnoes

I used a few "tools of the trade" during my trip, one came from the dust bin, as I hadn't used one in awhile I'll post a multi-choice poll to go along with the responses here.

Your experiences will surely be of interest to others here

 

[SurfnSun]

V1 =

 

[heimo huima]

Everything is illegal in my country..but soon have to get some.

 

[silver 80]

I second the V1otfl

 

[redb2k's]

We went down to the " Vettes on the Lex" last weekend. The vette right in front of me was using a Passport. We came upon a DPS and it was very ugly. Instant on, the detector was useless. He recieved a ticket for 110 mph. I passed him and speed off. At least they did not take him to jail. I waited in the next county to find out the results, just in case I had to bail him out of jail. Needless to say, I do not thing anything will beat instant on radar unless it is used on the car in front of you.

 

[warren s]

I use an Escort 8500. It has saved me in the past many times. Lately, however I find traffic moving so fast that i dont really need it.

If I have to travel faster than traffic around me, or in a wide open space its just my common sense and experiance to protect me.

 

[Zippy]

I never leave home in the Vette without my trusty Valentine 1. On long trips I add a CB radio to the arsenal. OTR truckers keep me informed of the whereabouts of smoky.

V-1 is discreetly mounted near the pass side visor, with an invisicord connection directly to the harness behind the rear view mirror. You could walk past the car and not know their is a V-1 mounted.

That said, common sense, experience, and an ever watchful eye help keep me off the radar tax contribution list.

Always watch for:

* parked tax collectors under viaducts & bridge abutments. Stealth due to shadows.
* parked tax colectors on the side of on-ramps.
* painted hash marks on the roadway...used by airplane and/or helicCOPter tax collectors with stop watches.
* Unmarked tax collector cars
*what appears to be a broken down vehicle (sometimes used as a decoy by the tax collectors. sometimes the tax collectors park ahead of a disabled vehicle....surprise!
* lone gunmen (aka tax collectors) on an overpass, armed with radar gun.
* tax collectors on a motorcycle (yes, they have radar equipped bikes!)
* another tax collector vehicle a mile or so ahead of a plainly visible smoky. (you think, great, I've got a clear road ahead and jump on it..BINGO, gotcha!
* a clump of trees, billboards, and kind of obstruction of your view ahead, and you don't see 'em till the light show is turned on.

Drive safe, but have fun!
*
*

 

[*89x2*]

Zippy, very good points, all of them!


On my recent trip, my Valentine 1 proved its worth again :cool I have had one since 1992 when they were first introduced! They are GREAAAAATTTTT!

That said, and as you pointed out, having "something else" can be of use. While common sense is often the best choice, sometimes that won't save you in an ambush.

My CB Radio worked well on the 2,000+ mile trip, as it "found" a few traps, miles ahead. While I am sure I would have gotten some warning with the Valentine, there were a few (esp. in Maryland) where they were extra sneaky. One trap only gave about 300 ft of a warning hnoes The CB radio gave 2 miles

There are drawbacks to CB radios. They are useless on side roads, there is a lot of garbage-speak on them for most of the time, and that ugly antenna ;help

One other side benefit of the CB, was on I 70 coming east from Effingham, I got a warning of a car fire with the interstate closed. With that mentioned, I pulled off at an exit, re-fuelled the truck and grabbed lunch. My delays were minimal and actually productive compared to sitting in the 4- mile backup


Keep the good info coming - Anyone use laser shifter or blockers???????

 

[8388]

Crown Vic

 

[bradfordsvettes]

V-1

 

[ibuyvettes]

I use the rythem method, that or I just pull out.

 

[*89x2*]

I use the rythem method, that or I just pull out.

We are talking about driving, right :Silly


...going with the flow of traffic, right????????

 

[*89x2*]

Everything is illegal in my country..but soon have to get some.

I just checked and in my state, most everything is outlawed as well hnoes

Looks like laser shifters/jammers are as too...

 

[89onlyZ51]

For everyday driving, I use an original Solo (the small cordless version). It still detects very well but doesn't have laser detection capability. Laser detectors pretty much only give you notice of when to start getting out your driver's license and registration, please.

For more serious potential infractions, I use my old Vehicle Radar Cloaking Device (legal low power jammer). It's fun going by those radar "your speed is..." signs and having it blank!

More important than electronic countermeasures - technique. Try to find someone faster to follow by about 1/8 mi (I call them my sweepers). Don't be out in front, don't weave through traffic, and slow down when passing so the person you're passing doesn't look like they're standing still.

 

[simbadb]

I never leave home in the Vette without my trusty Valentine 1. On long trips I add a CB radio to the arsenal. OTR truckers keep me informed of the whereabouts of smoky.

V-1 is discreetly mounted near the pass side visor, with an invisicord connection directly to the harness behind the rear view mirror. You could walk past the car and not know their is a V-1 mounted.

That said, common sense, experience, and an ever watchful eye help keep me off the radar tax contribution list.

Always watch for:

* parked tax collectors under viaducts & bridge abutments. Stealth due to shadows.
* parked tax colectors on the side of on-ramps.
* painted hash marks on the roadway...used by airplane and/or helicCOPter tax collectors with stop watches.
* Unmarked tax collector cars
*what appears to be a broken down vehicle (sometimes used as a decoy by the tax collectors. sometimes the tax collectors park ahead of a disabled vehicle....surprise!
* lone gunmen (aka tax collectors) on an overpass, armed with radar gun.
* tax collectors on a motorcycle (yes, they have radar equipped bikes!)
* another tax collector vehicle a mile or so ahead of a plainly visible smoky. (you think, great, I've got a clear road ahead and jump on it..BINGO, gotcha!
* a clump of trees, billboards, and kind of obstruction of your view ahead, and you don't see 'em till the light show is turned on.

Drive safe, but have fun!
*
*

Adding; one can no longer count on a particular color scheme or even visible cruiser lights on the vehicles. I read recently that silver has become the most popular color for new cars. Due to this, departments are purchasing silver cruisers as they retain about %10 more in resale. Silver is tough as hell to spot too, darn it!!

 

[*89x2*]

Adding; one can no longer count on a particular color scheme or even visible cruiser lights on the vehicles. I read recently that silver has become the most popular color for new cars. Due to this, departments are purchasing silver cruisers as they retain about %10 more in resale. Silver is tough as hell to spot too, darn it!!

Very true!

Aside from Crown Vics, here are some neat ones here:

 

[simbadb]

Very true!

Aside from Crown Vics, here are some neat ones here:

Yikes!!

May have to research buying one of those Challengers when they are done with it. I wonder how they have that equipped??

 

[*89x2*]

Yikes!!

May have to research buying one of those Challengers when they are done with it. I wonder how they have that equipped??

...don't worry, your state has 'em too hnoes

 

[simbadb]

...don't worry, your state has 'em too hnoes

I know; I saw one last week. I was Dismayed.

 

[Patrick]

You know, these discussion about "electronic counter-measures" come up periodically, and I always take some flack for my position on this. Well, I'll put my flame suit on and say it again:

Setting aside whether these devices are legal or not in any given state or country, I'm of the opinion that buying and using them gives one a false sense of security. I think it makes one a better driver if you force yourself to pay attention to road clues that there may be some speed enforcement zones up ahead a bit.

-Patrick