Thread: Radar detectors

Is any one running a radar detector in their car ?
Are they affective in Thailand and where can I buy one ?

Not worth buying as they say you are caught speeding even if they have no gun, Tea money required.

Pay the pigs 500, save the money on the detector.

Been caught a few times by radar. They send you a letter together with a photo of the vehicle you were driving at the time.
Penalty is 400baht. It also a fixed amount regardless of the speed.

Way cheaper than a radar detector, I imagine.

Do speeding tickets affect your insurance rates in Thailand (like they do in the States)? I've yet to get one here.

Originally Posted by FailSafe

Do speeding tickets affect your insurance rates in Thailand (like they do in the States)? I've yet to get one here.

No.....

I got stopped by radar gun once up country.....he said....'slow down please sir'...and away we went.

Originally Posted by Nawty

I got stopped by radar gun once up country.....he said....'slow down please sir'...and away we went.

You regularly dress as Somchai?

The pettiness here is no where near the level it is at in the USA, the police rarely bother you here. I brought an old Escort radar detector over when I first came here and the only time it ever went off was when I would drive past the runway of Utapo Airport.

Sea traveller has a sat nav, maybe that picks up cameras?

hello sea trav, are you out there?

Originally Posted by sunsetter

sat nav, maybe that picks up cameras?

Mine doesn't, but then again it doesn't often tell me the right way to go!

all of the ones i use have mate, tom toms and the crap navteq ones, you mean the one on your phone right?

I should think that if you have a detector in your car and you receive a warning that a speed gun is operating, it is to late, you have been clocked. GPS in U.K. usually have the fixed cams. on map which are always updated.
Best to drive within the speed limit.

errr, no doolish, you get plenty of warning

There's some guy from Korat advertising imported Whistler and Cobra for sale on the Thai forums. The prices range from B3,900 to 4,500 + 100 for shipping.

I'm looking at purchasing some in the next week or so and will pass on any info I find. I've been told they are available in motor accessory shops in the major provincial cities. I'll see if that info is correct.

There's some guy from Korat advertising imported Whistler and Cobra for sale on the Thai forums. The prices range from B3,900 to 4,500 + 100 for shipping.

Update: Budget approval for police to buy more radar units.

In a related story Police General (insert name here) corners markets on in-car detectors.

It looks like I'll be buying one from the internet.

I tried the major car accessory shops in a couple of cities upcountry and drew a blank. They all said to buy from the web.

Panthip was the same. I spent a couple of hours yesterday asking just about every shop there was there and they either had blank looks or suggested I buy from the net.

The truck driving magazines from America often have ads for radar detectors, some of the articles even have comparison tests with different models run on a test track using borrowed police equipment. Not exactly Consumer Reports, but their conclusions might be helpful.

Makes me wonder what kinds of speeds they are looking for. The legal limit of 90 seems unrealistic. At one checkpoint asked directions and was told an hour up the road at 100 kph. I've heard 120 is considered acceptable. Any experience here?

I've lived here for 12 years and have never gotten a speeding ticket? What world do you live in?

Maybe its because you don't drive or you have a Korean car that doesn't do more than 90KPH.
I don't speed that much now, but have paid out a few thousand baht in total over the last 15 yrs.

Originally Posted by buspilot

I've heard 120 is considered acceptable.

In a car I've never been bothered if I keep between 115 and 120. Pickup, much over 110 and you're likely to be stopped.

Originally Posted by peter2076

I've lived here for 12 years and have never gotten a speeding ticket? What world do you live in?

I guess you dont speed or you dont drive as there are coppers with speed guns along most main roads around Thailand.

Just got around to buying one

Beltronics Pro RX65 Radar Detector - Red

Well I think I have put atleast twice the cost of the detector into the coppers pockets in the last 12 years.
Will let you know how good it is in a month or so