Motivation enough to not get a ticket again

[ILLINI-SVT]

I got a retarded ticket on a side street in the burbs back in December. I haven't had a ticket in years so I took the driving course and supervision offer. Now they offer the course (4 hours) online, and I have to complete it this week.

While it's better than having to go somewhere and sit through this, the course is AWFUL. The interactive deal talks to you and then makes you keep hitting the Next button and answer questions the whole time. But the voice talks AS SLOW AS IT CAN, just so you wouldn't feel jipped in case it took less than 4 hours. The best part is that all of the questions are totally trick questions that just piss me off because I know the answer but missed the 'never, sometimes, always' qualifiers.

I just tried to take some screen shots, but apparently the license on my capture program expired.

While I'm being force fed the 3-second rule, I'm realizing what I've really learned today: don't ever again think that the Bel detector won't be needed in crappy suburban side streets.

Click to read more...

 

[hj16]

Yeah, the online course sucks, but tis better than having to go somewhere and do it.

 

[nytebyte]

I just tried to take some screen shots, but apparently the license on my capture program expired.

Just press your "Print Screen" key on the keyboard and paste the image into Mspaint, Word, Outlook, or any other program that can accept graphics. No need for a capture program.

I suppose I'd better get a radar detector!

 

[1MEANGT]

Yeah, I have to take that course soon. I think by the beginning of May. Got a ticket in January right by work. Damn Rosemont cops!!!

 

[CobraSusie]

So far so good... but just in case, what radar detector do you guys think is about the best?

 

[Flatliner]

Ya I have been lucky... althoughI did get pulled over once last year by a plain clothes cop in the manheim/ roosevelt area who let me off thank god. I punched it turning past a sanford and sun truck that had yet to move, passed him, all legal, except that the speed limit was 35 and well... he said I was going 55... I think he was wrong though, I was actually doing like 70... that was a big doh.

You can love the internet... and then you experience the online course.... and realize, ugh what is this world coming to

 

[ILLINI-SVT]

So far so good... but just in case, what radar detector do you guys think is about the best?

I did a lot of research into them when I bought mine (4 years ago after getting hit with a heafty fine). There's a website that does substantial testing every year, and I think their results are really thorough. They have the 2003 results posted:

Speedzones Labs

The results were pretty similar to what they were when I bought mine. I have the Bel 980, and I absolutely love it. Now I think the updated model is the Bel 985 in the 2003 tests, but it's essentially the same unit. The Bel, the Passport 8500 and of course the Valentine One are pretty comparable. I chose the Bel because 4 years ago I don't think they offered Laser detection on the Val1, and the Bel was like $100 cheaper. The Val 1 is an excellent unit (it's the only one that tells you what direction the radar is coming from), but my Bel IMO has a lot more features, and I wouldn't trade. My Bel even reported a calibration error code a year or so ago, it was under warranty, I sent it in, and they fixed it plus flashed the unit upgrading the software at the time.

I've been pulled over twice in the past 4 years since owning the Bel. Once was on 57 South to Champaign a couple of years ago, got hit with Laser alone really late at night, was told I was going slower that I really was and let off with a warning. The other time was this past December, in friggin North Barrington, it was snowing so I didn't even have it out, and the suburban commando was gunning over a hill, wrote me a ticket for like 32 in a 25. (And now this hellish driving school.) I was so pissed. But now I always have it out. The sppedzones test are true - I get warnings like 2 miles in advance.

 

[Flatliner]

FYI- Bel and Escort are now the same company... Bel's new radar detector is basically the passport 8500 in new case along with a few new whistles.

I had the 980 and loved it myself, however, all of a sudden I kept getting a low voltage warning. I use to think it was my old explorer but it did it in my cobra too. The second you turn it on it keeps beeping. How long was the warranty on your? I should probably look into getting it fixed but kept putting it off as I recently purchased the 8500.

Andy just bought the valentine and one of the main complaints I had heard was that it was huge, however, the one he has is in a new case.

Heck would anybody be interested in a 8500 about a month old? I may just go buy the valentine then...

 

[ChicagoMike]

Valentine One wins all the time in testing competitions. Valentine One does not detect POP mode radar units which don't work for poop anyway.

I've done a lot of research on radar detectors and jammers. V1 will get low scores from other websites because: No POP detection and the infamous "it looks hidious, it's got no ergonomics, it doesn't have voice, it doesn't have a compass..." etc etc etc!

I used a V1 from years with no tickets. I lost it in December in Canada because they picked it up on their Spectre II RDD (no radar detector is immune to it, new technology). I didn't take it down in time and I passed the cop. Oops! Just installed my new V1 yesterday under my rearview mirror and concealed display in the center of the guage cluster V1 in the past has even saved me from a laser trap - he was hiding behind a viaduct and popped the car ahead of me and the V1 laser warning went off - I jammed the brakes and he popped me and I was OKAY! That's pretty damn good since laser is tough to detect especially if it's not popping your car! Plus with V1, it can count up to 9 signals at once and track all of them!

Here's a great site for reference. I also have videos of the jammers and detectors being tested by State Police:

http://www.radarjammertechnology.com/

Don't buy the V1 from them though, buy it direct from ValetineOne.com.

FYI- Bel and Escort are now the same company... Bel's new radar detector is basically the passport 8500 in new case along with a few new whistles.

I had the 980 and loved it myself, however, all of a sudden I kept getting a low voltage warning. I use to think it was my old explorer but it did it in my cobra too. The second you turn it on it keeps beeping. How long was the warranty on your? I should probably look into getting it fixed but kept putting it off as I recently purchased the 8500.

Andy just bought the valentine and one of the main complaints I had heard was that it was huge, however, the one he has is in a new case.

Heck would anybody be interested in a 8500 about a month old? I may just go buy the valentine then...

 

[ILLINI-SVT]

I think my 980 had a 2 or 3 year warranty, I can't remember which. All I paid for was UPS to send it in, it came back a week later.