Camera, Laser and GPS Camera Detectors

[TheMoggy]

I'm looking for a recommendation on what camera / laser detector to buy. The Snooper 3Zero seems to fit the bill but gets very mixed reviews.

Any suggestions anyone? If I don't find something soon I may have to take the lead out of my boots.

[JonnyG]

AFAIK a laser detector will not save you on its own as you need a laser jammer too.  By the time your detector has bleeped you will have been targeted and potentially caught already.

I have installed the Pocketgpsworld speed camera database on my TomTom together with voice warnings and find it pretty good.  You can adjust the distance prior to warnings which is useful for known mobile camera locations.  It's not foolproof but I wouldn't be without it these days for long journeys on unknown roads 

The database includes all known mobile locations (usually lasers from a van) as well as Gatsos, Truvelos, SPECS and Red Light Cameras.   

http://www.pocketgpsworld.com/modules.php?name=Cameras

[monkeyhanger]

The mobiles are twitful things, and as already said, detection usually means you've already been caught. Most of the effective jammers are based on automatic garage door opener fobs. There are a few out there that jam for 8 seconds and warn you to slow down. The 8 seconds is a short enough time at a long enough distance for the police to not know they have been jammed apparently (are jamming devices illegal in the UK?)

[vidman2]

Laser detectors and jamming devices are illegal in the UK and if found out you will get fines and points - GPS detectors are not illegal

As stated above detectors are not much use, only likely to help if they pick up the beam from a line of sight use - when being used to check a car directly in front of you and even that may be too late to help.

Jammers can be ID by the laser gun and if you are spotted you will be done - arguments that yours is a garage door opener are not likely to save you driving along a road more than 100mtrs from your house as they should be switched off by then.

[corgi]

Laser detectors and jamming devices are illegal in the UK and if found out you will get fines and points - GPS detectors are not illegal

This is not strictly true. The possession of such devices is not an offence in itself; however, acting on the information they provide in the case of detectors or wilfully obstructing an officer in the lawful execution of his duties (the jammer) would be offences.

As stated above my experience of detectors - driven cars with them fitted - is that they are worse than useless. They are either so sensitive every petrol station you drive past with automatic doors will have the device going crackers or the sensitivity is so low that they miss a direct hit...

As for jammers, the likely consequences of of using one and getting caught far outweigh a minor speeding offence and, believe me, the police are becoming wise to these devices...

I'll provide a +1 for the pocketgpsworld camera database... it is pretty good but not perfect... In the end, there is no substitute for being very observant especially if you're speeding....

[TheMoggy]

Okay looks like buying a laser detector would be a waste of time...not sure now whether a camera (mobile or fixed) is worth it. I'm surprised the SatNav that came with the car doesn't have an option to upgrade to include a camera database.

[corgi]

Okay looks like buying a laser detector would be a waste of time...not sure now whether a camera (mobile or fixed) is worth it. I'm surprised the SatNav that came with the car doesn't have an option to upgrade to include a camera database.

Is it possible to download the pocketgpsworld database and load them as poi's?

Just a thought...