WHY YOU NEED A RADAR DETECTOR
Excerpts from the new York Times
For entire article :
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/15/weekinreview/15vittelo.html?
r=1&oref=slogin
The $1,050 Speeding Ticket
You have to go 20 miles an hour over the speed limit to
get that one;but under a new set of rules there are now a
whole host of violations considered "reckless driving" that
subject errant Virginia drivers to fines of $1,050 to $3,000
— plus court costs, if you fight and lose. The money will be
spent on maintaining roads and bridges, safety improvements
and closing a $500 million gap that emerged in last year’s
transportation budget. All over the country, supporting safety
improvements on the wages of reckless driving has become a
tradition. But in the relations between government and its
citizens, the four-digit traffic ticket also seems to signal
a leap in the use of fines and fees — and just about any other
form of enhanced governmental income production — to avoid
the dreaded thing itself, a tax increase.
"Anything that puts money in the treasury, without raising
taxes, is on the table," said Sujit CanagaRetna, chief fiscal
officer for the Council of State Governments, a Washington-
based research group that works with state lawmakers.
"It is a trend that we see growing tremendously."
A little about how radar detectors work.
Think of a radar signal as a beam of light from a flashlight.
When you shine a flashlight at an object, your eyes perceive
the light reflected from the object. Now imagine yourself as
the object being illuminated. You can see the light from the
flashlight from a much farther distance than the person with
the flashlight could ever hope to see you. That's because the
beam loses energy over distance. So while the beam has
enough energy to reach you, the reflected light doesn't have
enough energy to travel all the way back to where it started.
Police radar guns "see" a vehicle by transmitting a microwave
pulse. Then they make use of the Doppler Effect: the frequency
of the transmitted pulse is compared to the frequency of the
reflection, and speed is calculated by using the difference
between them. That's the idea behind radar detectors. They
look for radar "beams" and find them before they can return
a strong enough reflection to "illuminate" you. Detectors use
something called superheterodyne reception to accomplish
this. Radar detectors are essentially microwave radio receivers
that make noise or flash lights when they sense an incoming
signal on specific frequencies. Superheterodyne reception
allows detection of radar around curves or over hills, and it
extends detection range straight ahead.
Radar with GPS
Recent developments in GPS technology have empowered
radar detectors with more functionality than ever before. GPS
stands for the global positioning system, a satellite network that
communicates with devices to assist in ground-based
navigation applications. GPS devices in cars communicate
with satellites while moving. These devices measure speed,
location, and direction down to a few feet. They can also
store location information to mark important points on the map.
GPS radar detectors can calculate where they are and how fast
they're going at any time while they are communicating with
the GPS network. This is a powerful advantage over normal
radar detectors because even though they can tell you when
radar is in use around you, they have no way of knowing how
fast your vehicle is traveling.
Some GPS detectors can adjust their sensitivity depending on
how fast the vehicle is going, which reduces the need to
manually switch between city and highway modes. They can
also alert you when you are traveling over a set speed limit for
your own safety.
Some GPS radar detectors can be programmed to "remember"
areas that you drive past and alert you when they are
approaching. If you drive past an area with a suddenly steep
drop in the speed limit, the detector can warn you ahead of
time so you can adjust your driving accordingly. Or you can
program it to remind you of areas where there are red light
or speed cameras or frequent speed patrols.
Recent developments in GPS technology have empowered
radar detectors with more functionality than ever before.
So Some features to look for:
Type of detector: There are three types of radar detector: corded,
cordless, and remote-mount. Corded detectors usually mount on
the windshield via suction cups, and provide the best range of
detection. Cordless detectors are transported easily between
vehicles, and provide a cleaner installation than corded models.
Remote-mount detectors are permanently mounted to your vehicle,
providing a clean installation that's virtually undetectable by
thieves.
City Modes: City mode turns down the range or sensitivity so
that you get fewer false alerts; this feature is helpful for
urban driving.
Laser detection: A detector with one laser sensor can detect
laser beams in front of you, but not behind you or off to the
sides. 360-degree laser detection uses two sensors to look
for laser pulses to the sides and behind you. Models with
360-degree laser detection tend to be more reliable, but
more costly.VG-2 and Spectre protection:
These are shielding technologies that let you know when
police are using radar detector detectors (RDD). Spectre is
a more advanced RDD technology that is currently being
used in several states and Canada. Some detectors offer
protection, which warns you and then shuts down the
detector, while more expensive detectors offer protection
— they may be shielded from VG-2, Spectre, or both, so
they can continue operating without being discovered.
Digital voice alerts: A voice alert tells you what your radar
detector has picked up. You don't have to take your eyes
off of the road to look at the detector's display.
"Instant-On" Protection: Practically speaking, you can't
really defend yourself against Instant-On radar; if it's been
aimed at you, your speed has been measured by the time
your detector gives an alert. However, if the radar was
targeted on a car ahead of you, a detector with sensitive
K-band reception will alert you. High K-band sensitivity
is what allows manufacturers to promote a detector as
giving Instant-On Protection.
Radar Detectors: Treat yourself to peace of mind
The freedom to relax and drive with confidence — that's
what an investment in a radar detector can give you.
Today's models combine simple, ergonomic design
with up-to-the-minute technology. They can offer you
affordable, convenient protection, not only from speeding
tickets but often from driving hazards, as well.
May Your Next Trip Be Red Light
Free And Easily Found!
Thank You For Your Time
E & B ENTERPRISES
