[BMess]

I'm sure this is a basic question but I do not know the answer. Will radar detectors, such as the Passport 9500xi or the V1, be able to detect speeding cameras? I live in DC where we have cameras virtually on every block.

[upstatedoc]

speedcams=Escort 9500ix

[Showney]

Originally Posted by upstatedoc

speedcams=Escort 9500ix

/thread

[Viktimize]

No a radar detector cannot detect speed on green cams. They use sensors in the road to calculate your speed, not radar or laser.

Escort can help if you really don't know the area. But it still just becomes an annoyance, because it beeps at every intersection that has a cam reported, it doesn't care what direction your travelling.

[RimasRS]

Originally Posted by Viktimize

No a radar detector cannot detect speed on green cams. They use sensors in the road to calculate your speed, not radar or laser.

Escort can help if you really don't know the area. But it still just becomes an annoyance, because it beeps at every intersection that has a cam reported, it doesn't care what direction your travelling.

What would i need to protect my self from laser and other radars?

[E90Graphite07]

Originally Posted by 3dftw

I'm sure this is a basic question but I do not know the answer. Will radar detectors, such as the Passport 9500xi or the V1, be able to detect speeding cameras? I live in DC where we have cameras virtually on every block.

Thought it was illegal to operate/own a radar detector in DC and Virginia.

[upstatedoc]

Originally Posted by E90Graphite07

Thought it was illegal to operate/own a radar detector in DC and Virginia.

It is but so is speeding.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by 3dftw

I'm sure this is a basic question but I do not know the answer. Will radar detectors, such as the Passport 9500xi or the V1, be able to detect speeding cameras? I live in DC where we have cameras virtually on every block.

It depends on the type of speed measuring device the camera supports. If the camera is working with a time/distance model, no. If it's simply a radar, yes. If it's laser, yes, but it won't matter, you're caught.

As a District resident, I'm surprised you even get caught at all. The lights are often timed so you can catch waves of green for long distances if you just drive around 27 mph, give or take. You may want to explore trying to find routes that non residents don't generally use as those routes don't often have cameras, and they certainly have a lot less traffic. Most often, the roads I use are ones that don't directly enter and exit the city. For example, 11th or 15th street to travel north, east of 16th street. I live between Mass Ave and Cleveland Ave, so I often use Woodland Dr instead of Cleveland.

Just some ideas. All the best.

[BMess]

Originally Posted by tony20009

It depends on the type of speed measuring device the camera supports. If the camera is working with a time/distance model, no. If it's simply a radar, yes. If it's laser, yes, but it won't matter, you're caught.

As a District resident, I'm surprised you even get caught at all. The lights are often timed so you can catch waves of green for long distances if you just drive around 27 mph, give or take. You may want to explore trying to find routes that non residents don't generally use as those routes don't often have cameras, and they certainly have a lot less traffic. Most often, the roads I use are ones that don't directly enter and exit the city. For example, 11th or 15th street to travel north, east of 16th street. I live between Mass Ave and Cleveland Ave, so I often use Woodland Dr instead of Cleveland.

Just some ideas. All the best.

Thanks for the answer. I typically do the same thing. I live on Mass and Nebraska area. I typically dont have issues in DC unless I'm going somewhere that I'm unfamiliar with, since I've learned where all the cameras are. Its more for highways in MD,DC, and VA.

[N8N]

I don't know about DC but in MD the cams are all laser - verified by my V1 (yes, I'm a good boy and take it down when I come back to VA.). Problem with laser is by the time you've detected it you only have a fraction of a second to react.

I find running Waze on my phone a better defense against cameras than the V1. Even better, as of now that is still 100% legal! I don't hardly ever drive in DC proper but in NoVA and MD there seems to be a good user base and camera locations in SS, Rockville etc. seem to be well documented. If you need more than that you probably need to look into an *ahem* parking assist product like Laser Interceptor and possibly some stealth coatings for your front plate, lights, etc. Unfortunately I have not yet seen a coating that a) works and b) doesn't have a visible tint. Finally no tech will make you impervious, best you can do is identify the cameras and make sure you are at a legal speed once you have. all the CMs do is give you a little extra time to react if you're inadvertantly going a little too fast... laser is not detectable from anywhere near the distances that radar is.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by N8N

I don't know about DC but in MD the cams are all laser - verified by my V1 (yes, I'm a good boy and take it down when I come back to VA.). Problem with laser is by the time you've detected it you only have a fraction of a second to react.

I find running Waze on my phone a better defense against cameras than the V1. I don't hardly ever drive in DC proper but in NoVA and MD there seems to be a good user base and camera locations in SS, Rockville etc. seem to be well documented. If you need more than that you probably need to look into an *ahem* parking assist product like Laser Interceptor and possibly some stealth coatings for your front plate, lights, etc. Unfortunately I have not yet seen a coating that a) works and b) doesn't have a visible tint. Finally no tech will make you impervious, best you can do is identify the cameras and make sure you are at a legal speed once you have. all the CMs do is give you a little extra time to react if you're inadvertantly going a little too fast... laser is not detectable from anywhere near the distances that radar is.

I don't venture into NoVa much -- mostly just to go to the airports or to visit friends in Great Falls -- but I do go to MD a good bit. There, you can pretty much count on there being some sort of camera supported speed monitoring device around a school. Sometimes it's placed prior to your finding out there's a school there, sometimes after. In any case, once you pass the sign saying "End School Zone" you have also passed the camera.

Also, even where there's no school, you can pretty well be sure that where there is photo radar/lidar, there will also be a notice that the speed limit is photo enforced. It's just that not always does the notice precede the camera. DC tends to put them where folks are more inclined to speed, and especially on routes in and out of the city.

I'm going to have to try this Waze thing.

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by 3dftw

Thanks for the answer. I typically do the same thing. I live on Mass and Nebraska area. I typically dont have issues in DC unless I'm going somewhere that I'm unfamiliar with, since I've learned where all the cameras are. Its more for highways in MD,DC, and VA.

DC 295 has them in several places. I haven't noticed any on the Beltway or Rte. 50 headed toward the shore, and apparently they haven't noticed me either. LOL.

[N8N]

Originally Posted by tony20009

I don't venture into NoVa much -- mostly just to go to the airports or to visit friends in Great Falls -- but I do go to MD a good bit. There, you can pretty much count on there being some sort of camera supported speed monitoring device around a school. Sometimes it's placed prior to your finding out there's a school there, sometimes after. In any case, once you pass the sign saying "End School Zone" you have also passed the camera.

Also, even where there's no school, you can pretty well be sure that where there is photo radar/lidar, there will also be a notice that the speed limit is photo enforced. It's just that not always does the notice precede the camera. DC tends to put them where folks are more inclined to speed, and especially on routes in and out of the city.

I'm going to have to try this Waze thing.

definitely try it... costs you nothing if you already have a car kit for your phone. Make sure when your phone connects it is phone only and not media audio so that you get the audio alerts through the phone speaker if you're listening to the radio. Another program to try, also free, is Trapster but Waze seems to give more useful info. It's not perfect - I miss the speed limit display of Trapster - but it is definitely a permanent part of my driving arsenal. I have my phone set up so that when I put it in the car kit and it establishes a BT connection to the car or my Jeep that it automatically starts Waze and locks the screen on, so all I have to do is set it in the holder when I get in the car.

[BMess]

The problem with Waze is you rely on others to tell you where a cop/speeding camera is. Passport Escort also has an app that tells you where police have been spotted, but they couldve been there two hours ago and the alert will still go off. I think Escort and Waze are only good for stationary cameras rather than actually police with radars.

[N8N]

Originally Posted by 3dftw

The problem with Waze is you rely on others to tell you where a cop/speeding camera is. Passport Escort also has an app that tells you where police have been spotted, but they couldve been there two hours ago and the alert will still go off. I think Escort and Waze are only good for stationary cameras rather than actually police with radars.

Agree, both traditional radar detector and Waze working together is the ideal setup. People do report police to Waze when they spot them, but they can and do move around. However the RD is not so good at spotting stationary cameras because they're laser-based, nor is it particularly good at protecting you from a cop with a handheld laser speed gun. Waze is good for giving you the locations of the stationary cameras, unfortunately there's not a whole lot you can do about a cop with a handheld laser other than pay attention.

this site has some good info about exactly what equipment is used where

http://www.radardetectorforum.org/wi...aphical_Survey

[Viktimize]

Originally Posted by 3dftw

The problem with Waze is you rely on others to tell you where a cop/speeding camera is. Passport Escort also has an app that tells you where police have been spotted, but they couldve been there two hours ago and the alert will still go off. I think Escort and Waze are only good for stationary cameras rather than actually police with radars.

I sent a request/query in to Trapster about this too. They need a report option for a travelling police car using radar. That is how they catch most people around my area, police just radar the head on traffic, and when they get a speeder just pull a U-turn and ticket them. If you could report a north moving cop using radar, the app could at least tell you that info so you have an idea where he might be.

[E92mech]

You need to look into a detector like Bel STiR+ that is GPS enabled and SPECTRE-undetectable. For laser, even Laser Interceptor 8.9 won't help for stationary poliscan due to instant speed reading at point blank range. However, google nophoto. If this works, it may be the answer. Agree on Waze. Using a combination of STiR+, LI, waze and laser shielded plates, I haven't gotten a single ticket in MD/DC/VA in 2 years.

[N8N]

yeah the front plates are the big thing. Headlights and fog lights are next. Supposedly there's supposed to be a new Laser Veil product out "soon" that will not be as tinted as the current product, which would be great. I wonder how it would interact with something like Opti-Lens though?

Also, serious question. It doesn't seem to have come up in any RDF threads but Plasti-Dip seems to be real popular here. i wonder, would Plasti-Dipping the hood/bumper flat black help against laser? It sounds extreme, but you could make the argument that you thought it looked cool and/or you were trying to protect your paint.