The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
Virginia will remain the only state in the nation where radar detectors are illegal.
A bill to repeal the state’s 48-year-old ban on the devices was defeated Thursday by the House of Delegates, 61-38.
The sponsor of HB674, Del. Joe May, R-Leesburg, argued that the ban is inhospitable to visitors and that radar detectors enhance traffic safety by encouraging motorists to slow down.
But the majority of delegates were swayed by opponents’ arguments that the devices contribute to excessive speed.
The state police opposed the measure.
“Speed on the roads of the commonwealth is a major problem,” said Del. Manoli Loupassi, R-Richmond. “I don’t think we ought to be passing laws that make our roads less safe.”
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Here's the Deal...
Cities and towns can't make money unless they catch you speeding....
Radar Detectors...when used properly....help keep people from speeding and if you're not speeding, at least by the time the run up on the cop, you generally don't get speeding tickets :)
I don't know personally, but I wouldn't be surprised if the research showed that there are fewer speeders with radar detectors than without and if you want to punish people for speeding with radar detectors, that would make more sense to me than punishing them for having one because when used properly....THEY ARE A DETERRENT TO SPEEDING.
Va's one sided deterrent to speeding has to change and I predict that it will.........soon !!
Snickers
As you may know, Virginia is the only state that bans the use and sale of detectors. There is no evidence that the detector ban increases highway safety. Our nation’s fatality rates have fallen consistently for almost two decades. Virginia’s fatality rate has also fallen, but not any more dramatically than it has nationwide. Research has even shown that radar detector owners have a lower accident rate than motorists who do not own a detector.
Maintaining the ban is not in the best interest of Virginians or visitors to the state. I know and know of people that will not drive in Virginia due to this ban. Unjust enforcement practices are not unheard of, and radar detectors can keep safe motorists from being exploited by abusive speed traps. Likewise, the ban has a negative impact on Virginia’s business community. Electronic distributors lose business to neighboring states and Virginia misses out on valuable sales tax revenue.
Radar detector bans do not work. Research and experience show that radar detector bans do not result in lower accident rates, improved speed-limit compliance or reduce auto insurance expenditures.
• The Virginia radar detector ban is difficult an
Radar Detectors
If you look at all the police that are using radar, a radar detector will constantly be alerting the driver, therefore the drivers will slow down making the roads safer. What really needs to happen is something needs to be done about the police abusing the speed limit in non-emergency situations. I have had as much as three police cars to pass me speeding to go to a restaurant. The speeding police may be a result of the ongoing drug problem within the State Police.
Predator Va Traffic Laws............
I love Va traffic cops...
The last ticket I got was in VA and it was a speeding ticket. I was GUILTY !!
I hired an attorney, got it reduced and more importantly, saved a boat load on car insurance.
I was passing an 18 wheeler at the time I got busted and but for that I wouldn't have been exceeding the speed in the manner I was, but officer "Friendly" didn't care.
Had I had a quality detector at the time, most likely it would have alerted me to the fact that the officer was in the area and I wouldn't have attempted to pass slow polk.
Since this incident, I've purchased 2 detectors for my particular driving situations ( yes, one is for my trips into VA ) and I am a much more careful driver now than I was then.
Thank Goodness
Now, just like in the other 49 states, no one will speed!
O.M.Goodness! Let VA just
O.M.Goodness! Let VA just stay "backwoods". In so many respects.
Legitimate Use?
Ordinarily I'm not much in favor of government restricting what we can and can't own or use, but in this case, I can't really see any purpose for a radar detector than attempting to get around the speed limits. If there is a legitimate use for these devices, I wish someone would enlighten me.
Speeding is a crime. If no accidents are involved, it's primarily a victimless crime, but it's a crime nonetheless and I don't think we ought to be encouraging people to commit crimes. If the speed limits are too low, rather than attempt to beat them by use of radar detectors, we should raise them, as the General Assembly is attempting to do this year.
Be patient folks
It's just a matter of time and the law WILL change.
Comment deleted
Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Personal attack, name calling
Double the fine if caught speeding with detector
Let them keep their detectors, just double the speeding fine (or add a separate big fine) for anyone caught speeding with a detector in the car. Since I've never owned one, I'm not sure if the detector is "portable" --but speeders 10 miles or more over speed limit--could also be 'searched".