Radar Detectors and LEOs

[Gokhos]

The general impression is that LEOs don't like radar detectors, some may hate them.

I think it would be interesting to get some feedback from the users here about LEO reactions to radar detectors. Reactions whether they be neutral, negative, or positive.

Perhaps reading about reactions will provide information to RD users about various circumstances, RD mounting locations, etc. Might just help someone out.
I know this general topic has been discussed in other forums here, but I thought this would provide the opportunity to post some of them here, together.

As for me, other than a hard look from an local LEO that saw my RD while sitting next to me at a red light, I haven't had any other experiences to speak of. Was stopped once by a local LEO for something else (officer admitted he was mistaken and told me to have a good day) but I know he saw the RD and said nothing about it. Both times the RD was mounted on the rear part of the center of the front dash.

Anyone?

[stano0098]

As long as they still give out speeding tickets I wouldn't see why they would hate them.

[MEM-TEK]

Most cops absolutely hate radar detectors since they believe that the only reason to have a radar detector is to flagrantly speed with a complete disregard for the law. They also believe that speeding is the major cause of accidents and highway fatalities even though speeding in fact is the root cause of less than 5% of highway accidents.

[BreakfastPirate]

I'm pretty convinced that a LEO pulled me over solely because I had a radar detector. He left his radar gun turned off until he got his front bumper about even with my quarter panel (perfect view of my RVM from his angle) and then hit me with I/O after pacing me at the speed limit for a few seconds. After a mile or so he pulled me over for a malfunctioning license plate light (I hit it with my fist and it turned back on). It was a pretty BS reason for a traffic stop, and I can only assume he was fishing for one because he saw my RD on the windshield.

[Gokhos]

I'm pretty convinced that a LEO pulled me over solely because I had a radar detector. He left his radar gun turned off until he got his front bumper about even with my quarter panel (perfect view of my RVM from his angle) and then hit me with I/O after pacing me at the speed limit for a few seconds. After a mile or so he pulled me over for a malfunctioning license plate light (I hit it with my fist and it turned back on). It was a pretty BS reason for a traffic stop, and I can only assume he was fishing for one because he saw my RD on the windshield.

Where was your RD mounted?

Did the LEO mention the RD?

Did he ticket you or let you go?

[Gokhos]

Most cops absolutely hate radar detectors since they believe that the only reason to have a radar detector is to flagrantly speed with a complete disregard for the law. They also believe that speeding is the major cause of accidents and highway fatalities even though speeding in fact is the root cause of less than 5% of highway accidents.

Good point. From my experience, failure to obey regulatory signs, failure to yield the right of way, inattention to what is going on around you (look, listen, and think) , misjudgement of space and time, environmental and traffic conditions, and plain old stupidity are usually at fault for accidents.

[Divewjason]

I did have a leo that constantly was hitting me with i/o the other day while being behind me. I don't know if he saw my radar detector or not though. Around Halloween of 2008 I was coming down a road and I saw a leo coming towards me going the opposite way, he hit me with 35.5 I/O as he was going by. I do believe I saw a spectre on his windshield. Some officers use I/O to get RD users. If there weren't RDs out there, they could use C/O and not have to worry about it.

[qu1Z]

Had a LEO use I/O on me a few weeks ago, as I slowed down and he passed me I could see his eyes wandering to the middle of my windshield where it was currently installed. He clearly saw it and knew what to look for. Several months ago I backed out of a driveway and had a LEO pass me going in my expected direction of travel. I continued on my way thinking nothing of it, then I started picking up KA when he was about 1/4 mile down the road. Down the road a ways there is a slight turn and he had turn around in one of the local businesses and as I passed he proceeded to follow me. He stayed on me real close while my RD raged for a good 5 minutes or so. Short version, I think he was just messing with me because he was bored.

[BreakfastPirate]

I'm pretty convinced that a LEO pulled me over solely because I had a radar detector. He left his radar gun turned off until he got his front bumper about even with my quarter panel (perfect view of my RVM from his angle) and then hit me with I/O after pacing me at the speed limit for a few seconds. After a mile or so he pulled me over for a malfunctioning license plate light (I hit it with my fist and it turned back on). It was a pretty BS reason for a traffic stop, and I can only assume he was fishing for one because he saw my RD on the windshield.

Where was your RD mounted?

Did the LEO mention the RD?

Did he ticket you or let you go?

My RD is mounted right above the RVM on the driver side. It's barely visible from behind but off to the side he could've seen it (this was at night too, so the display would be very bright). He didn't mention the RD, and didn't give me a ticket for the license plate light. From that position though (driving almost next to me) he would not have been able to get a speed reading, but he would've been able to see the display on my RD quite clearly. That's what made me think he was just checking to see if it was indeed a RD.

[erickonphoenix]

Officers perspectives seem to vary greatly on RDs. They are obviously despised by some and used by others in their personal cars. I think it's rather telling that the RD I've seen used by law enforcement in their personal cars is usually the Valentine one.

HPDjim uses a V1 in his truck but only on I-10 when he's commuting to New Orleans and really only to keep him from passing other vehicles if there's radar running. He claims to only drive 5-10 over on cruise control but occasionally needs to pass cars at 15 over and the F350 doesn't accelerate as well as the Charger. He does not run the V1 in his personal Dodge Charger.

TrooperX doesn't like them but doesn't seem to mind them either since he admits to parking on the side of the highway on foggy mornings running CO Ka to slow down detector users. He also sets his Stalker to CO when he works accidents for the same reason. So he sees they have side benefits.

I haven't had any bad experiences with the detector present.