Oh, that technology also exists in the U.S. in some jurisdictions. It's just that the vast majority of state legislatures haven't allowed that kind of intrusion into personal freedom . . . yet.

 

Have had the Escort 8500i plus wired into my V8S, love it. Detector fits well in the grill close to the badge, GPS receiver also tucked in under the front plastic trim, totally invisible and works great. The control module is tiny and can be mounted above the right knee, installer did an amazing job. Unless you sit in the driver's seat you don't know it's there. The GPS lockout works perfectly, hardly any false alerts. May go for the optional laser shifters, wanted to see how it all works first. So far very impressed.

 

Since this thread got bumped, it prompted me to read it. Gippsland is quite right about his description of state of road regulation here.

Foosh - I'm curious. What is the intrusion on personal freedom you're referring to? Or is that just code for "I want to break the speed limit and I want to minimize my chances of being caught"?

 

Oz,

Yes, it is code for that, but not my words or feelings per se.

I don't have a radar detector and have never used them. My use of the term referred to the controversy over radar detectors in the U.S. when they first appeared nearly 30 years ago. Some U.S. states banned them, and police cars in some states did carry detection equipment.

Over the years, most all of the radar detector bans have been rolled back by state legislatures, because the restrictions were deemed to be an infringement on "personal freedom" to purchase and use a device, which was and is legally available for sale. It's not unlike the strong feelings related to the right to own a gun in this country, and the growing trend of U.S courts to overturn strong gun-ownership restrictions. It is an emotional issue because the founders and authors of U.S. Constitution shortly after the successful rebellion against the British stipulates the right of citizens "to bear arms." There is a very strong "government can't tell me what I can own sentiment."

Automatic speed detection and plate recognition technology is also banned in many jurisdictions, but allowed in others. Individual U.S. states have a lot of latitude over such laws unlike most other western democracies, which are more "federalized."

My own political beliefs tend to run contrary the "personal freedom" argument, particularly when public safety is at stake, but I won't get into that.

 

Thanks, Foosh. Interesting.

We are quite familiar here with your Second Amendment. It generates lots of discussion around dinner party tables here.

Without wanting to hijack the thread, many of us are quite puzzled by how it's evolved over the years in your courts.

As it was passed;
"A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed"

We don't understand how the lobbyists have manipulated your Supreme Court to focus on the phrase after the comma, whilst blithely ignoring the intent of the reference to a well regulated militia. With the exception of National Guard volunteers, I'd be very surprised if there are very many US gun owners that are actually part of a "well regulated militia".

I certainly did have a rethink on this topic back in Oct 2012 when I visited Austin TX and toured the Capitol, and read the inscriptions on the monument out the front about the number of Civil War casualties. It made me understand, at least, why there is such an inherent distrust in your own government. Unfortunately, it's taking a massive toll on your country still. Ironically, the day I departed, I went through LAX and a gunmen followed my exact steps only 30 minutes later, shooting two TSA officers in the process.

Anyway, on the detector subject, I guess they mucked up. They should have just banned the manufacture and/or import of the device, rather than trying to prohibit the purchase. But I guess that wouldn't have stopped an outcry.

Complicated country you've got there!

 

Oh boy, this is going to be fun to watch.....

 

Yeah. That post was a bit of a "stream of consciousness" brain dump without much "editorial review". Re-reading it just now, there's probably about 20 different ways I might have offended someone depending on how it's interpreted. I hope not - I should have at least added how much I enjoyed that trip to Austin, and what fantastic people I met there (no, I'm not just saying that).

I'll just shut up now...

 

Oz,

Yep, it is certainly NOT a good idea to have a discussion on this subject on any internet forum because it usually gets red-hot. As you suggested the crux of the issue is that some focus on the "well-regulated militia" language, while others focus on the "right to bear arms."

Without getting into what is "right" and what is "wrong," the issue is usually decided by a close margin, with Federal judges closely split. U.S. Presidents appoint Federal judges in this country, and it is a lifetime appointment. Thus, what it really boils down to is the political leaning a particular U.S. President, and how many judges have been appointed by each side of the political spectrum.

 

I have been looking long and hard, and for the life of me I can't see the corolary anywhere attached to the second amendment where John Adams and Thomas Jefferson addressed the right to bear radar detectors (is that back on topic?)

I am uncertain about the right to bear arms, but I fully support the the right to arm bears (now that would make hunting a real sport).

 

Well my opinion is that German traffic laws are superior to American ones and therefore I drive on the basis of what German laws would be.

I use top of the line radar detectors and laser jammers to provide countermeasures to speed enforcement.

If the government is going to have stupid speed limits then I'm not going to obey them. And my general observation of people in my city is that 90% of people share my perspective because nobody seems to be obeying the speed limit.

 

It's actually quite simple....the idea behind the 2nd Amendment was that the federal government (intended to have limited powers) was entering into a social compact with the people. The people would be allowed to be armed as a balance to the risk of the federal government becoming tyrannical.

Most autocratic nations have disarmed their population before they were able to take total control of their populations. America has a unique history and tradition that has made it great.

America shouldn't be like Europe and Europe doesn't necessarily have to be like America.

 

What mount is this? Is it wired into the mirror?

 

ignore - posted to wrong thread

 

Actually, a radar detector keeps me safer; makes me more aware of my speed. As for the 2nd amendment to the US Constitution, if you don't live here, it's none of your concern. I sure don't have the temerity, or right, to meddle in another nation's policies. If my government does that, then I will vote for someone who tends to stay out of someone else's business.

 

thanks for posting this. Like the other person, I'd really appreciate it if you could take another close up shot of the piece that is at the top of the dash. I'm planning on installing a Bel STi-R + and ALP and am interested to see if there are others (pictures please!) that have installed these?

 

I've had a 9500ix for a year now and am very pleased with it.

 

Escort RedLine and Escort Passport 9500ix

 

I'm thinking of getting the Stinger VIP installed which is the best though twice as expensive as StiR+AL

would love to see someone's install of Stinger in an FType if they've already done so.

 

I've got a Valentine 1, and just had it updated to the latest specs. I get a lot if junk warnings now that u never got before. The extra sensitivity seems detrimental for one band only. The rozzers don't use that band here, so I have to look at every alert to see if I can ignore it. They're mostly fixed geographically though, so that helps.

 

I have an Escort Passport, and it's solid, but I'm sick of false warnings generated by Audis