I caught up over night on the MirrorTap thread - but I'm curious...has anyone done an installation of a permanent detector wired behind the grill and wired to the audio with a dash light in the cockpit.


My dealer informed me of a customer who did this. It's pricey - about $3,000 - and requires bumper removal and a few days...but alas, I'm hoping to minimize the aesthetic of a suction mounted piece.


Thoughts?

 

I am also interest my brother in-law did it a few years ago on his Porsche and truck and really worked out well. Don't recall who made the units.

 

I should clarify...they can be purchased online. I am curious about their effectiveness.

 

If you're going through that much for the radar, do it right and install a laser jammer.

 

Yes I have something like this. I have a Bel STIR+. It is installed behind the bumper cover. The display is installed on the instrument cluster.

It works well, although if I was doing it again I would buy the Stinger VIP which is even better.

I also have the Antilaser Priority laser jammer which has saved me from many tickets. Laser detection isn't sufficient since lidar guns tend to give instant speed readings. So a laser jammer is a must to supplement radar detection.

 

I had the escort 9500ci and laser shifters installed. My installer comes to your location, takes about 6 hours.

Pictures can be found here

What is your radar detector of choice?

I imagine you could work something out with him as he is in NW Atlanta.

 

If this mobile installer is Jim then PM me.

 

I didn't see a link to pictures that worked. I'd love to see pictures of your installation.

Researching this feedback, it does seem that that 9500ci, STiR+ and Stinger represent my needs...I might favor the Stinger as that slim card interface looks interesting, but the iPhone app for Escort is intriguing too.

One thing I'm concerned with is making sure the alarm can be heard over that 770 watt stereo.

 

Interestingly, it appears that even the possession of a Laser Shifter is illegal in Tennessee...but interestingly not in Georgia (one mile to the south...an interesting side note...my wife wanted to buy a house where the front door was in GA and the back door was in TN)...so I'm wondering if we have a basic state's rights issue here

But as I read the statute, I'm wondering if "seizure" of a permanently installed piece of hardware includes the car...hmmmm

The code:

(a) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:

(1) "Radar jamming device" means any active or passive device, instrument, mechanism, or equipment that is designed or intended to interfere with, disrupt, or scramble the radar or laser that is used by law enforcement agencies and officers to measure the speed of motor vehicles;

(2) "Radar jamming device" includes, but is not limited to, devices commonly referred to as "jammers" or "scramblers"; and

(3) "Radar jamming device" does not include equipment that is legal under FCC regulations, such as a citizens' band radio, ham radio, or any other similar electronic equipment.

(b) It is an offense for any person to knowingly possess or sell a radar jamming device.

(c) It is an offense for any person to knowingly operate a motor vehicle with a radar jamming device in the motor vehicle.

(d) It is an offense for a person to knowingly use a radar jamming device for the purpose of interfering with the radar signals or lasers used by law enforcement personnel to measure the speed of a motor vehicle on a highway.

(e) Any radar jamming device that is used in violation of this section is subject to seizure by any law enforcement officer and may be confiscated and destroyed by order of the court in which a violation of this section is charged.

(f) The provisions of this section shall not apply to law enforcement officers acting in their official capacity.

(g) (1) A violation of subsection (b) or (c) is a Class C misdemeanor.

(2) A violation of subsection (d) is a Class B misdemeanor.

 

It's a pretty clear statute. You cannot have any device that interferes, detects or alters any type of law enforcement speed measuring device. While I'm sure your joking about the seizure of the car "although drivers from the north it might find TN law enforcement tempted to actually push that outcome" they can and will rip it out of your car and crush it underfoot. I had a friend who lost his detector that way in southwest Virginia a few years ago.

 

Interestingly this CODE contains an important inconsistency which a lawyer could possibly exploit to get you off a ticket for violating this code. Clause 3 says ""Radar jamming device" does not include equipment that is legal under FCC regulations, such as a citizens' band radio, ham radio, or any other similar electronic equipment."

The Laser jammers that I use are not illegal under FCC regulations (because laser is not an FCC regulated spectrum) and is licensed for civilian use by FDA regulations (it is an eye-safe laser). Since a laser jammer is therefore legal for use within FCC regulations, it cannot be considered a "Radar jamming device" per Clause 3.

Clause 1 contradicts this, however since Clause 3 is an exemption to Clause 1, you would be good.

Note a jammer which jams radar frequencies (KA, K and X band) would still be illegal because it is FCC regulated spectrum and jammers that jam these frequencies are illegal per FCC/federal law.

 

Small cost to lose a detector if it gets you out of a ticket. When you factor how it affects your insurance payment for the next 3 years, a speeding ticket can easily cost $3000-4000. One saved ticket pays for 10 radar detectors.

 

So true

 

Actually, I'm only halfway joking. Do I think it's likely? No. But is it conceivable? Maybe.

While I agree with Stealth's assessment, judicial due process on interpretive disputes occurs in the courtroom not on the roadside shoulder. So, stick with me:

- Uncle LEO is not going to parse the distinction between 1 and 3 (he will not have FCC regs and FDA regs at his immediate disposal)
- but Uncle LEO also isn't disposed to crawl under the car and rip out the equipment installed under the bumper and behind the grill
- uncle LEO also believes that the device's use is illegal AND therefore its mere possession under "b" is an offense - so can he let a vehicle in violation be driven away?

So, while a court will decide, it's not going to happen there ...I guess I should research a Class C Misdemeanor...[edited to add: $50 fine and up to 30 days in jail]

Glad I live only a mile north of the Ga state line where their legality is not disputed

Chicken Little needs to go back to sleep

 

My sense is that this could happen even in GA where it is legal if you come across an idiot cop who knows nothing.

This said, I have never been questioned about having a jammer. You have to understand that most of the time you just jam till you slow down, then switch off and let them see you are at speed limit.

These devices are so rare, that a cop may not encounter a car with this equipment in a month. So they may think it is just bad aim or something.

Go to any parking lot and walk around and look at the cars. My office parking lot has a lot of nice cars - Ferrari, Maserati, Porsche, BMWs, Jaguars, etc. and not one of them has laser jammers. The only time I see cars with laser jammers is at car enthusiast meetings like Caffeine and Exotics.