Whistler XTR-695 Laser/Radar Detector review
63You are on your way to work one morning, typically behind schedule, so you step on the gas and try and keep up with the traffic flow on the expressway. The speed limit is 55, but to keep from getting run over you need to do at least 75.
Cruising along in the far left lane at a comfortable 83, half asleep, you look in your rear view mirror to see a state trooper right behind you keeping up with your fast pace. BAM! Flashing red and blue lights pop on. Great, just what you need to start your day, a speeding ticket. And not just any ticket, this one is a big fine. 83 in a 55 is a $200+ ticket!
Happy Monday.
And the speeding ticket fine is just the beginning of the cost. Are you going to take off work to go fight the ticket? If you are paid by the hour, you are looking to lose at least three hours of pay to go to traffic court. How much will your insurance go up now? The average insurance increase is $23 per month. Even with ONE SPEEDING TICKET your insurance rates could increase for three years! That’s throwing away your hard earned money.
Do you live in a state were points are added to your driving record? If you accumulate too many points your license will be suspended! ALL this for one little speeding ticket.
Check out these speeding ticket facts:
- The average speeding ticket fine in the U.S. is $150.
- Every year, 40 million speeding tickets are issued in the U.S. that’s 110,000 tickets PER DAY, 4583 PER HOUR, or 76 PER MINUTE. Do you think in every case the ticket was justified? How many speed traps have you been caught in? You have a 17% chance of being pulled over today.
- Studies prove that when the economy is down, the number of speeding tickets written skyrockets. In many states speeding tickets are up a whopping 75%! Just when you need your hard earned cash, the state wants to fine you!
- A new law would allow states to increase speeding fines by $200 for offenses 20mph over the speed limit. In some states, speeding is a criminal offense punishable by up to 30 days in jail!
- Did you know insurance companies regularly buy radar/laser guns by the hundreds and pass them out free of charge to police departments?
- States like California, Colorado, Illinois and others have doubled traffic tickets fines since last year.
- Above Stats from TrafficTicketSecrets.com
Sure there are ways to get out of a ticket. Just show up in court and maybe the police officer will fail to show (happens about 25 to 40% of the time). Court is a hassle, you are better of avoiding a ticket. Since many of us refuse to drive the limit (myself included) the best way to avoid a ticket is by fighting back with a Laser/Radar detector. Is a Laser/Radar Detector cheating? I mean cops cheat by using undercover vehicles, speed traps, etc., so why not level the playing field by buying a Laser/Radar Detector?
Whistler XTR-695 Laser/Radar Detector
Since 90% of my driving is a one hour commute to and from work, I decided that a radar detector would be a wise investment. Even if the radar detector only saved me from one ticket then it already paid for itself. I researched and scoured the Internet to find a good, reasonably priced radar detector and the Whistler XTR 695 kept popping up with rave reviews.
Short list of features:
- Indicates Ka 33.8, 34.0, 34.3, 34.7 or 35.5 on the display when police radar alerts are detected within these common Ka speed radar windows
- Laser Identifier may indicate the Pulses Per Second (PPS) transmitted by Speed Laser or other forms of laser sources.
- Custom Multi-band Selectable Display can be set so that each Band alert can be a different color
The XTR-695 sticks to your windshield like any other radar detector: two suction cups. The cups are attached to an easily bendable metal bracket. The unit leaves no distracting reflection on the inside of your windshield. You can easily read the LED display at night, but it is somewhat hard to read during the day. You can choose from 7 different display colors for a bit of personalization, even assigning a different color for each band, or scrolling colors.
Highway mode provides full audio and visual warning of laser/radar systems while maintaining full sensitivity. Highway mode is the default setting of all Whistler's laser/radar detectors. City mode helps reduce the annoyance of automatic door openers and burglar alarm alerts by providing an initial alert (same distance as Highway Mode) then remaining quiet unless the signal strength becomes very strong. When the signal increases the unit will alert briefly to notify you of the change in signal strength. I keep it on Highway where ever I go; I rather have it go off when I ride by a store with automatic door openers than be sorry.
Since driving with a radar detector, I am more aware of my surroundings. I believe it has actually caused me to slow down, I mean ALL radar detectors give false alerts, and I immediately take my foot off of the gas when the detector goes off. The Whistler has a SWS (Safety Warning System) that alerts you when an emergency vehicle (ambulance, fire truck,) is present.
NOTE: Before you buy, make sure radar detectors are legal in your state!
Whistler's Low Profile Alert Periscopes provide an added attention getting visual alert. The two extra LEDs flash on and off when the unit alarms to provide a unique visual alert in case you have Stairway to Heaven blasting on your stereo.
As a side note, I am not sure how well the "periscope" lights are designed; they sure attract your attention, and the attention of police officers and drivers nearby. Seeing blue lights flashing inside my car... who knows what they think when they see them.
Conclusion
This detector has already paid for itself within the first week of using it! I have had it for over a year now and it has saved me from countless traffic fines, court dates and un-needed stress.
Buy it. Use it. Save $$. Case closed.
