Radar / Laser Detectors

Laws vary in the U S, from state to state, but radar detectors are generally legal in private vehicles under the Communications Act of 1934 and illegal in commercial vehicles by DOT regulation (49 CFR 392.71). Exceptions:

• Illegal in all vehicles: Virginia, Washington D.C. and U.S. Military Bases
• Prohibitions against affixing items to windshield – ("obstructing vision"): Minnesota and California

Radar Jammers are illegal under federal law, but Laser Jammers aren't specifically banned.  

Laser is regulated by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) and currently there are no federal laws prohibiting the use of laser jamming equipment for passenger vehicles.  However some states have enacted their own laws, so Laser Jammers are illegal in the following areas: South Carolina, Nebraska, Minnesota, Utah, California, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, Illinois and Washington DC.

So let’s not forget, the use of any device to interfere with police radar transmissions (a radar jammer) is illegal in the USA and Canada.  However a Laser Jammer is not specifically banned throughout the USA yet; the current exceptions are listed above.   Please note that I use the term “yet” in regard to laser jamming, because I believe if jamming a radar signal can be deemed illegal then so can laser jamming.  In other words, why spend Dollars on equipment that is already illegal in nine states and DC.

So the long and short of it is this: If you have a heavy foot or just get pleasure from the thrill of driving faster than the posted limit BUT do not particularly enjoy spending time in court paying speeding fines, then a Radar Detector combined with a Laser Detector has the probability of saving you real Dollars and lots of time.  With a capital investment of less than say, $500.00 you can purchase the very best technology that is available which will: keep you on the road; off the side of the road; out of the court house; and all the while, keeping cash in your pocket.  To some of us $500.00 is a considerable sum.  When considering that each speeding offence is apt to cost nearly a $100.00 or more, the investment starts to make sense!   I’m sure you can justify the investment if you fall into the category described above.   I know people who have used the same detector for 10 plus years…

I recommend the Passport 9500ix, the Escort C65, the Valentine 1, the Beltronics RX65, or the convenience of a cordless unit in the Escort S2.   By the way, several of these units can be mounted upon the windshield visor in-stead of the windshield its self, thus satisfying California’s and Minnesota’s “obstruction of vision” law which is referenced above.

Sources …

www.radarbusters.com …http://www.radarbusters.com/radar-detector-info.cfm ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communications_Act_of_1934 ... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detector#Legality http://www.1stradardetectors.com/radar-detector-laws.php ... http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_05/49cfr392_05.html ... http://www.radarbusters.com/legalissuesarticle.cfm