May be time for a radar detector for me...>

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patrick_b

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I've been driving so much more since I got my FX last month. I've also been pulled over twice in the last month after going the last 10+ yrs w/out a ticket.

It's just so damn easy to do 80MPH. Couple of weeks ago, I got caught by laser at 81MPH up near Bangor, ME. Trooper was very nice and told me to keep it slow...no ticket.

Then this week I'm way up in upstate NY near Plattsburgh on I-87. Once again, 81MPH by radar this time. The breakdown lane is virtually non-existent so i pulled way over into the grass to give the Trooper enough room.

Upon knocking on my window, he says, "I appreciate the way you pulled over onto the grass. Usually people leave me standing in the lane. Are you 'on the job' up here?"

"Yes," I replied.

"What agency are you with?"

"Pardon me...did you say agency," I responded. "Oh, I misunderstood. I'm in the area for business but I'm not in law enforcement."

I proceeded to tell him that I work for a pharmaceutical company and I'm just in the area for business. He eventually came back and gave me a ticket for 'stopping/standing on the highway' (non moving violation) rather than the speeding ticket (moving violation).

It was really nice of him but I really gotta either slow down or get a radar detector. It may not have helped me in Maine with the laser but definitely would have helped me this week in NY.

Around home (Boston area), I usually stick with traffic which moves at 80MPH, but when you are in the middle of nowhere like upstate NY or Maine, that's not always an option. I was originally thinking V-1 but after a bit of research here, it looks like the Escort is just as good.

I just don't like the idea of keeping it out on the windshield. I'd much rather have it permanently mounted out of sight with a separate dash display. Any FX'ers go that route? It may be too much of a PIA so I see recs for Mike's mount and invisicord. Invisicord I figured out but I gotta find out what the Mike's mount is.
 
I was originally thinking V-1 but after a bit of research here, it looks like the Escort is just as good.

I just don't like the idea of keeping it out on the windshield. I'd much rather have it permanently mounted out of sight with a separate dash display. Any FX'ers go that route? It may be too much of a PIA so I see recs for Mike's mount and invisicord. Invisicord I figured out but I gotta find out what the Mike's mount is.

Bel Rx65 is exactly the same as Escort but cheaper, especially on eBay. I have one in my FX and one in my gf's Touareg and we can't be much happier. If you're not going with V1 and if you don't mind the red lighting (8500 has a blue version), get the Bel.

Also, Mike's mount is plastic. I'd prefer this:
http://www.countryjoycrafts.com/350Z/escortmount.htm

I didn't want to go with either (have accessories on my mirror, a good luck charm) so I got a TomTom suction cup arm (big single suction cup) and hacked my Bel clip to work with that. Most of the suction cup's whole arm hides behind the mirror, so it doesn't annoy me at all..
 
Wow...GREAT info!! Thanks for the tips. I hadn't even considered the Beltronics unit but I'm all for saving a couple o bucks!!
 
I use the country joy mount with my v1 and it has served me well. It is also hard wired but not with the invisicord.
 
Wow...GREAT info!! Thanks for the tips. I hadn't even considered the Beltronics unit but I'm all for saving a couple o bucks!!

Save more:
InfinitiScene.com - View Single Post - Deals on other sites (part 2)

30% cashback in 60 days on ebay purchases with paypal.. It'll be about $80 cashback for the Bel below (as an example):
http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-BELTRONICS-...39:1|66:2|65:15|240:1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and the results (for me at least):
View attachment 157066
 
i've been using the Escort 8500 (blue) for the better part of 3 years now. It's been pretty good and has saved on a few occasions. That said, on the NJ turnpike it has yet to ever catch a state troopers radar. I've been busted twice on the turnpike and the radar never even made a peep. other then the pike it's been working fairly well.

Would those brackets work on an 09 FX50 with all the lane departure crap above the mirror?
 
That said, on the NJ turnpike it has yet to ever catch a state troopers radar. I've been busted twice on the turnpike and the radar never even made a peep. other then the pike it's been working fairly well.

Did you enable the POP radar setting? The POP is necessarily the same type of radar wave but comes in a single burst instead of the regular waves of K & Ka. It might be that or they may be using lasers..
 
i have pop turned on i believe, now that you mentioned it. i will check it and make sure it is enabled. wow am i going to be pissed if i missed that one.

on a plus side i only got non moving violation tickets on both counts so that was cool. Being honest and saying yeah man i was booking goes a long way lol.
 
So i'm noob, i never turned POP on DOH!!!
Don't know, one time i got busted he had a hand held and hit me when he saw my headlights rise over the hill... He gave me a ticket for obstruction of windshield for having the radar and a seat belt... Beats the 4 point speeding going over 22mph over speed limit ticket heh.
 
Hmm, thought POP was default. Anyone know the sequence to get that on?
 
I wonder why he thought you were in the law enforcement....

It was because I pulled way over onto the grass to give him room to approach the vehicle. Evidently, cops do that kinda stuff for other cops...or at least that's what I assume :)

I have a couple of buddies in law enforcement and they gave me the following advice when getting pulled over.

First, pull way over, especially on the highway so the officer/trooper feels safe (puts him at ease). Remember, these guys never know who they are pulling over. It could be some guy in a suit (like me) or an armed felon on his 3rd strike.

Next, keep your hands on the steering wheel so he/she can see them. Don't be digging around in your glove compartment, briefcase, etc. looking for license & reg. Again, the officer doesn't know what you are looking for...most times its your license. But it could be a weapon.

I always keep my hands atop the wheel in plain sight and only grab my license/reg after he/she asks for them. I also say, "My license is in my wallet in my briefcase," or something like that.

Note, the idea is to keep the officer at ease. Of course I'm hoping that the easier I can make the stop, the better chance I have of not getting a ticket. However, as I said, I have a couple of friends in law enforcement and I have a great deal of respect for their job. Sure it sucks to get a ticket but these guys have an awfully difficult job and really never know what they are walking up to on a regular traffic stop.

Does it work?? Who knows. But I've been stopped twice in a month for 80+. No speeding ticket in both cases so maybe there's something to the advice I received.
 
Hmm, thought POP was default. Anyone know the sequence to get that on?


hit both top buttons to get into program mode, then hit the left button until you see band then hit the right button until you see pop then hit the mute button infront to enable it. yeah you would think it would be on by default...
 
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