Choosing The Right Radar Detector

Page 12 - Photo Enforcement

The Ticket's in the Mail

Photo enforcement is used with several different methods, but all use a computerized photo system.

Photo speed enforcement is set to photograph vehicles traveling above a predetermined speed (5 to 10 miles-per-hour over the speed limit).
Some fixed speed cameras use sensors that are embedded in the roadway to measure your speed, others use radar.

Red light camera also use sensors in the roadway to capture your violation.

The results are reviewed and a ticket is mailed. Each image contains the date, time, location and vehicle speed. The photo radar company processes the data and gets the owner information.

There are five different types of counter measurement devices marketed that claim abilities to defeat the enforcement cameras.

GPS Based Warning Systems
Very effective with Fixed Based Camera Systems

These devices have become very popular in European countries over the past several years, especially where radar detectors are illegal and they are now just beginning to become available in the US market.

The way this system works is that you download the latest locations of the speed enforcement cameras into your GPS system from the provider. Then when you approach the location of a known camera, the GPS warns you to slow down.

The NavAlert was the first portable camera based system for the USA shortly followed by Speed Cheetah USA who developed the GPS Mirror and then the new Cheetah C-100

The Cheetah GPS Mirror and the Cheetah C-100 both use the Trinity Database which we found to be the most accurate GPS speed camera database and I highly recommend either of these two units.

GPS Angel recently released a new dash mounted red light/speed camera warning device that retails for $99.00. I tested it and was dissapointed in the units poor perfomance. A full review of this device can be viewed here

Several radar detector companies have since integrated GPS based traffic enforcement camera locations into their detectors such as Cobra, Uniden and Escort.

However, don’t be fooled by the lower end detector companies with their GPS capabilities.

I attempted to test Cobra’s GPS based radar detector during the Fireball Race, however the detector gave almost constant false alerts and was impossible to use.

However, the Escort 9500ci the Escort 9500ix and Bel GX65 are all top performing radar detectors and you have the ability to download monthly database updates to your radar detector.

Radar Detectors
Very effective against radar based systems (Detector must have high sensitivity).

There are two different methods used in the USA that speed enforcement cameras use to measure your speed, radar and embedded sensors.

Commonly referred to as photo radar, these speed enforcement cameras use radar to measure speed. A good radar detector such as the Escort 9500i the Escort 8500 X50, the V1,the Beltronics RX65 or the Bel STi will detect these types of enforcement cameras in enough time for you to slow down.

Lower end brands such as Cobra that have low sensitivity may not warn you well enough in advance to slow down and avoid the flash.

However, radar detectors will not work with speed enforcement or red light cameras that use embedded sensors in the roadway to measure speed.

Plate Covers
Somewhat effective however “ticket magnet” in areas where illegal.

A less expensive alternative if they are allowed in the areas you drive, are the anti-photo enforcement license plate covers, such as the Super Protector.

These covers go over your license plate(s) and keep the plate visible while you are directly behind the vehicle. However, if you are offset on an angle, where the photo enforcement cameras would be positioned, a portion of your license plate is blocked.

Washington D.C. has strict laws regarding these covers and violations can cost well over $300.00.

Many people use and buy these covers as maybe evident to you as you drive around your local streets. But it is recommended that you check with your state and local departments on laws in your area regarding these covers, prior to you applying them.

These types of covers are not effective against motion video cameras that are sometimes used in stationary photo radar locations and at toll booths.

Flash Back Device
Ineffective

A flash back device installs on your license plate and senses the flash of a photo enforcement camera and simultaneously flashes its own strobe light onto the license plate, washing out the numbers to the photo enforcement cameras.

I have tested these devices against the Redflex cameras installed on the 101 in Scottsdale, Arizona. During this test I found that these devices were totally ineffective.

Photo Spray
Ineffective

Another ineffective method of beating the photo enforcement cameras is the photo spray such as the Photo Blocker Spray.

When I tested this spray against various traffic enforcement cameras in use today, the spray was ineffective.

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