Bottom Line Up Front - Valentine (unlike many vendors) will ship their radar detectors directly to Virginia, where radar detector use is illegal.

The Navy is temporarily relocating me to California for the next two years, and my wife is staying in Virginia to finish up a Master's degree while I'm gone.

Since I see a lot of interstate driving for both of us during the next two years, I ordered two Valentine 1 radar detectors over the weekend. I ordered them from Valentine's website, and was half-expecting the checkout process to reject my order when I entered my home address in Virginia for the shipping address. To my surprise, it accepted the order just fine, and according to the tracking information from FedEx, they'll arrive tomorrow before 7pm.

For those that don't understand the significance of this post, the use of radar detectors is illegal in Virginia, brick-and-mortar stores in Virginia can't sell them, and most mail-order/on-line vendors won't even ship them to Virginia. As a result, most Virginia buyers have to go out-of-state to buy them, or have them shipped to a friend/relative out-of-state.

Since the Valentine 1 detector is only available direct from the manufacturer, and I'm leaving for California in a few days, I originally thought I was going to have to have them shipped to my parents' house in Dallas, pick them up there on my way, and mail one back to my wife in Virginia. So, I was pleasantly surprised that Valentine 1 will ship directly to Virginia, correctly leaving it up to the buyer to only use the product in a legal manner.

 

I would imagine that it is not illegal to own one, but only to use it.

Don't get caught!

 

Oh, I'm not going to be using it while in Virginia. And while you're correct that it's only use, not possession, that's illegal, many vendors still refuse to even ship radar detectors here.

 

I guess Valentine figures that a sale is a sale. Besides, like you, others may buy them for travel. My dad was a sales rep and used them when on the road, but tucked it away in states that banned them.

 

I thought Virginia was the only state that radar use was illegal.
What other states are there??
BTW, Virginia is the ONLY state I do NOT speed in. Those state troopers are are tough!!!

Good Luck with your cross country trip!!!!

 

Virginia is the only state that they are illegal. But in DC they are illegal as well. Those would be the only two places in the US that they are illegal, unless something has changed in the past couple o years.

 

Sadly, a friend of mine was pulled for speeding in VA (lives in MD), and although the detector was unplugged and in his passenger floorboard, the officer still confiscated it. :(

 

I believe that Valentine is an idiosyncratic company. Also, I believe their story is that radar detection is a hobby and in no way an attempt to enable illegal behavior (speeding). I agree and just by coincidence, have not had a ticket since getting my Valentine. This would not be true if it wasn't a hobby of mine to observe police behaivor with the aide of my Valentine. It takes more than detection to avoid the ticket; it takes knowing what each signal means and aggressively responding. It also requires recognizing laser terrain and drifting through that area: The MINI shares some of the characteristics of a motorcycle in that it is a breeze to slow down and speed up as appropriate.

Gee, I had forgotten that about Virginia. I used my detector at speed . . . reached the West Virginia line without any Trooper encounter.

 

Valentine???????????????????????

 

Your friend can get it back, it's his property. Most officers now won't confiscate it, but they will write you a separate ticket for it.

Years ago I was "caught" in posession of a switched off radar detector (Valentine 1 actually!) in Virginia when I used to live in MD. Received a ticket... he even wrote down the serial #, and made me put it in the trunk (in my Mustang so trunk applies, not boot), but he did NOT confiscate it.

 

Heard an urban legend story that once upon a time they would either give you a ticket for it - or let you drive over it.
Enjoy the V1, Scott! Note that if you don't have time to hardwire it, you'll want to use the phone cord connection vs. the coiled 'stretchy' one. It's a LONG way from the cig lighter to the windshield. (Brought my V1 with me, but only had the stretchy cord.:impatient)

 

Yes, I was surprised at this too when I had mine updated..

There was no issue in the shipping at all !

 

I've used a detector in VA for years. Keep it on my consul point up unobstructed towards the windshield. Radar scaters and the detector still picks it up, but not as far as mounting in the window. Beats no info at all. You do have to learn to take your foot off the gas v getting the brake. Most folks get caught here when the police shoot the radar and watch the brake lights come on. Remember that if you drive here. Most of the state police here will give you 10 mph on the interstates. At 11 mph or over, they got ya! Over 80 can be a trip to jail.

 

When I said states, I meant DC (not a state). Of course, this was MANY years ago.

 

Hubby installed the Beltronics STI this afternoon. It's hard wired and mounted above the drivers side rear view. I say it's in plain view from the front of the car, but he doesn't seem to think the police look that hard. I disagree, but I'll be able to say "I TOLD YOU SO" if nothing else. If I'm stopped for it I'm hoping on only being written up, which is fine with me. No points involved, or $3,500 ticket. I've heard the ticket is only $100. Anyone know for sure here in VA?

 

Chalk one up for the secret compartment in the R56!

 

I'll bet you hard earned $$$ that more police officers know about that secret compartment than new Mini owners.

 

The funny thing is, I have the JCW shift light indicator on my MNI, the VA state police followed me for ~15 minutes. With it's geen indicator light, they'd mistaken it as a radar detector light.

 

Followed you for 15 minutes?

Another waste of my tax money, or did it just take him that long to notice the light and think you may have a detector?

 

It was starting off the ramp from 495 onto rt. 66 until I took off Rt. 28, then he gave up.

My speed was like 65 -70 on the speedo, but ~ 60 - 65 on my GPS. He was trying to get me with both speeding and using a radar detector, I believe.

 

Just be aware that in California, the cops like to do things a few different ways.

Pacing you.
Aircraft.
Laser.
And finally, radar. When they use radar, it will often be when you are within a hundred feet, too late to do anything. Your detector will go off, but the cops already have you nailed.

 

I've always heard (from the "olden days," at least) that if a cop car is ahead of you, and you come up from behind, you're safe as long as you don't pass him. True? Or is that an old wive's tale?

 

Isn't it great that states can pass laws that prevent you from receiving signals?

 

No. It isn't great at all.

 

Hubby has a thread on his StangsUnleashed forum that explains how to go to court and fight a ticket given for having a radar detector in the state of Virginia. I'll let you know how it goes when I'm put in the position to use the information. Supposeably the ticket is only $100, but it's the point I just may have to spend some time with.