-
This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Learn more.
Radar detectors in NV specifically Las Vegas
- Thread starter pc911lv
- Start date
Don't know if the laser counter measures are effective. No defense against the flying fuzz. Have wife read following:
Basic Speed Rule
Nevada’s basic rule prohibits driving at a speed that is greater than is “reasonable or proper, having due regard for the traffic, surface and width of the highway, the weather and other highway conditions.” The law also prohibits driving at a rate of speed that “endanger the life, limb or property of any person" or results in the injury of another person or of any property.
In other words, motorists must always drive at a safe speed. What a safe speed is will depend on the circumstances. For instance, 55 miles per hour might be safe on a bright, sunny day. But if it’s dark and the road is icy, going 55 miles per hour could be dangerous and a violation of the basic speeding law.
Absolute Speed Limits
There is no trick to how Nevada’s absolute speed limits work: If the absolute speed limit is 50 miles per hour and you drive faster than that, you’ve violated the law. Absolute speed limits are those that are posted alongside roadways. However, in no event is a motorist permitted to drive faster than 80 miles per hour.
Penalties for a Speeding Ticket
Speeding is a misdemeanor in Nevada. A violation carries up to six months in jail and/or a maximum $1,000 in fines. However, the fines cannot exceed $20 for each mile per hour over the limit or safe speed. Though speeding tickets typically don't lead to jail time.
Basic Speed Rule
Nevada’s basic rule prohibits driving at a speed that is greater than is “reasonable or proper, having due regard for the traffic, surface and width of the highway, the weather and other highway conditions.” The law also prohibits driving at a rate of speed that “endanger the life, limb or property of any person" or results in the injury of another person or of any property.
In other words, motorists must always drive at a safe speed. What a safe speed is will depend on the circumstances. For instance, 55 miles per hour might be safe on a bright, sunny day. But if it’s dark and the road is icy, going 55 miles per hour could be dangerous and a violation of the basic speeding law.
Absolute Speed Limits
There is no trick to how Nevada’s absolute speed limits work: If the absolute speed limit is 50 miles per hour and you drive faster than that, you’ve violated the law. Absolute speed limits are those that are posted alongside roadways. However, in no event is a motorist permitted to drive faster than 80 miles per hour.
Penalties for a Speeding Ticket
Speeding is a misdemeanor in Nevada. A violation carries up to six months in jail and/or a maximum $1,000 in fines. However, the fines cannot exceed $20 for each mile per hour over the limit or safe speed. Though speeding tickets typically don't lead to jail time.
I have a Valentine One in every vehicle I have. Around town, I don't speed much, but it's nice to know when they are around running radar. Usually this is only the Metro bike cops and NHP.
That said, get a membership to Legal Shield. It's kind of like attorney insurance. Once of the services they offer is handling tickets. I've used it a handful of times in the last 20 years. Every ticket has been reduced to a parking ticket, no points, no driving school, and just pay a fine that's about 1/2 of the ticket fine. The local attorneys that do this for Legal Shield are Dempsey, Roberts and Smith. You could contact them about handling it for you personally. There are others that do this too.
That said, get a membership to Legal Shield. It's kind of like attorney insurance. Once of the services they offer is handling tickets. I've used it a handful of times in the last 20 years. Every ticket has been reduced to a parking ticket, no points, no driving school, and just pay a fine that's about 1/2 of the ticket fine. The local attorneys that do this for Legal Shield are Dempsey, Roberts and Smith. You could contact them about handling it for you personally. There are others that do this too.
Kinoons
Well-known member (45 ACP)
Forum Supporter
2019 Supporter
2020 Supporter
2021 Supporter
2022 Supporter
2023 Supporter
2024 Supporter
2025 Supporter
Trading Post Subscriber
I have a older (5-6 years) Whistler unit.
If they’re using laser you’re likely dead meat.
If you’re the only car on the road, and the cop is smart enough to turn the radar off and on when they need it, you’re dead meat.
If there is some traffic, so you can detect when they’re using the radar on the car 1/4 mile down the road in front of you, you can have time to slow down.
Nearly all police radar guns now have been using the Ka band technology if they’re radar and not laser. I turn off all the other bands as I find they’re almost universally false alarms.
Any good unit, Maybe $200 ish (I haven’t looked in a while) can be useful in the right circumstances.
If they’re using laser you’re likely dead meat.
If you’re the only car on the road, and the cop is smart enough to turn the radar off and on when they need it, you’re dead meat.
If there is some traffic, so you can detect when they’re using the radar on the car 1/4 mile down the road in front of you, you can have time to slow down.
Nearly all police radar guns now have been using the Ka band technology if they’re radar and not laser. I turn off all the other bands as I find they’re almost universally false alarms.
Any good unit, Maybe $200 ish (I haven’t looked in a while) can be useful in the right circumstances.
Last edited:
Dr. Marneaus
Leave me alone.
Forum Supporter
2021 Supporter
2022 Supporter
2023 Supporter
2024 Supporter
2025 Supporter
Trading Post Subscriber
Harley
BANNED 4 LIFE because I did it!
Forum Supporter
2020 Supporter
2021 Supporter
2022 Supporter
2023 Supporter
2024 Supporter
2025 Supporter
Trading Post Subscriber
On a side not, some of the newer cars have admin features to set a limiter on it.
My nephew got his first car recently. A 2010 Ford Focus and he is pissed that its locked at 80mph and asked if I could change it. I played dumb and told him I knew nothing about it and that he would have to take it to the dealer which he couldn’t afford anyway.
Just a thought anyhow. Twice in one week is pretty bad. That’ll raise insurance costs in a hurry!
My nephew got his first car recently. A 2010 Ford Focus and he is pissed that its locked at 80mph and asked if I could change it. I played dumb and told him I knew nothing about it and that he would have to take it to the dealer which he couldn’t afford anyway.
Just a thought anyhow. Twice in one week is pretty bad. That’ll raise insurance costs in a hurry!
I run a Uniden R3. Works good around town in City mode (reduced sensitivity) and has better than 3 or 4 miles range generally on a highway run in Highway mode. The R3 can pick up the motorcycle cop's POP radar as he 'lights up' cars up the road in front of you so you have a chance to slow down by the time you get to where he's working.
Speeding tickets you buy your way out of. Last one I had was $250 to make it go away. GF got one a few months ago and it was the same. It's not about safety its all about the Benjamins
Speeding tickets you buy your way out of. Last one I had was $250 to make it go away. GF got one a few months ago and it was the same. It's not about safety its all about the Benjamins
The Unidens are the leader in range vs false alerts. But the Valentine 1's are a close second. I've used a V1 for a long time (I started with a Fuzzbuster II in the 1970's, then an Escort, a Bell, a Whipser, and maybe more). I like the V1. I like their situation awareness (arrows showing the source of the signal). The Unidens can learn where false signals are located based on multiple trips coupled with GPS and not alert the driver to the falsies. Using the JBV1 app on a cell phone, the V1 can do the same. It does require buying the Valentine bluetooth module. In my opinion, the V1 + bluetooth module + cell phone + JBV1 app = most info and therefore, best setup.
NHP uses instant on, you need traffic to alert you to their presence, otherwise, uh oh. Metro motorcycles use instant on too. I've heard NHP uses laser near the CA border but since I refuse to go to CA, I can't confirm. One might be able to get a stray radar signal, but probably not.
Radar/laser jammers do work but I don't think they're legal in the US. $$$. But concealed means concealed.
A lot of Nevada roads are safe at high speeds with cars in good condition. Don't speed in towns, cities or in traffic. But knowing where there are speed traps will allow one to slow down without contributing to civil coffers.
NHP uses instant on, you need traffic to alert you to their presence, otherwise, uh oh. Metro motorcycles use instant on too. I've heard NHP uses laser near the CA border but since I refuse to go to CA, I can't confirm. One might be able to get a stray radar signal, but probably not.
Radar/laser jammers do work but I don't think they're legal in the US. $$$. But concealed means concealed.
A lot of Nevada roads are safe at high speeds with cars in good condition. Don't speed in towns, cities or in traffic. But knowing where there are speed traps will allow one to slow down without contributing to civil coffers.
Last edited:
How about......just......not speeding?
I value my money in my pocket not the insurance companies.
Doesn't seem like a good investment $$$ wise for just few saved minutes.
First, last and only ticket was in 1977 doing 45 in a 30. Driving a huge 1972 2dr Chrysler Newport 400 ci
Now, I do 5mph over what is posted, ( mind you I am speeding )with cruise set traveling in the center lane. That gives those looking for a ticket 2 lanes to pass me.
Last edited:
I've used them for years, not because I habitually speed but because I like to know where the policia are. About the only time I bust the speed limit is on the freeway heading across the desert, and even then not often. I generally drive a brick on wheels (Jeep Wrangler) which isn't exactly a vehicle a sane person speeds in. But I got nailed thirty some years ago passing a car on the old Palmdale Road when I floored it to get around a slow mover. Been running them ever since. Come to think of it that was the last ticket I had, though I hadn't had many before that either.
I use a Valentine myself but I've used Beltronics as well, back when they were an independent company. The main difference today between a cheap one and an expensive one is the expensive one tends to give less false alarms. Electric door sensors will give off alerts when you drive by. Also many new cars have blind spot alert systems that can also set off detectors when driving close to them. The more expensive detectors use algorithms to filter the false alerts out. And false alerts are really annoying.
Out in the desert on the highway you can easily pick up signals 10-20 miles out if the road is flat. NHP uses Ka-band. In the city some departments use K-band and some use Ka-band. Henderson has always used K-band, though I think they may be upgrading some units to Ka-band. Not sure what Metro uses nowadays. I've yet to run into a verified POP or laser signal, though they are out there.
Last time I drove the 95 to Reno I noticed the NHP was was leaving their radar off, but would suddenly flip it on at the last minute against oncoming traffic. I assume a lot of people on 95 must have detectors and the NHP is changing tactics a bit.
I use a Valentine myself but I've used Beltronics as well, back when they were an independent company. The main difference today between a cheap one and an expensive one is the expensive one tends to give less false alarms. Electric door sensors will give off alerts when you drive by. Also many new cars have blind spot alert systems that can also set off detectors when driving close to them. The more expensive detectors use algorithms to filter the false alerts out. And false alerts are really annoying.
Out in the desert on the highway you can easily pick up signals 10-20 miles out if the road is flat. NHP uses Ka-band. In the city some departments use K-band and some use Ka-band. Henderson has always used K-band, though I think they may be upgrading some units to Ka-band. Not sure what Metro uses nowadays. I've yet to run into a verified POP or laser signal, though they are out there.
Last time I drove the 95 to Reno I noticed the NHP was was leaving their radar off, but would suddenly flip it on at the last minute against oncoming traffic. I assume a lot of people on 95 must have detectors and the NHP is changing tactics a bit.