i had traffic school today for running a stop sign. during the class, he was asking us some questions. he has 20 years experience. anyways, he asked us if radar detectors were legal? i said yes they were, but "jammers" are not legal. he said i was wrong, and that both radar detectors and jammers are illegal. he said that one of his past students had a radar detector and the police officer told him to remove it, and have his car go completely over it, smashing the detector. the police officer, also the judge of that case, both said ( this was in court ) that by using the radar detector, you are basically cheating the state by trying to not be issued a speeding violation. i didnt want to make an argument with the instructor because a 17 year old vs. a 40 year old with 20 years experience in driving school would just look bad on me
whats the real deal? am i right?

 

Depends on the state you're in, but I think you're right. Looks like they're only illegal in Virginia and D.C.

Look here: Mobile Scanner and RADAR-Detector Laws In The United States

 

i think only in some states they are illegal....not all states.....

 

Depends on the state. In indiana they are o.k. but i was driving
in south carolina once and saw a sign saying they were illegal

 

Dectors are legal in Cali but Jammers are not.

 

Don't take your detector to Canada, my brother got a fine shortly after going through the border check point.

 

Just as I thought, DC and Virginia ONLY.



That does not mean that there may be LOCAL ordinances regarding them.

 

The Communications Act of 1934 guarantees your right to receive radio transmissions. Don't know how some states make it illegal.

 

There miht be some states that are not listed in that link provided. I think they are illegal in NY too, and probably more states than we think. Sometimes you'll only know as you're driving through that state and see the posted signs.

 

Here is where the confusion lies as my best friend who is an NYPD officer also told me it is illegal here in NY. We got into a little friendly argument and after a wager was made, he pulled out his law code book. Now in NY, according to the book, it is illegale to USE a radar detector in vehicles over 12,000lbs and I believe a limo/commercial vehicle.

I am positive of the 12,000lb rule but on the other, I forget the exact details.

Anyway, I won the bet but my boy never paid up! He did say he would write me a ticket (jokingly) for the radar detector for being "an obstructed view"! LOL

 

That's most likely a STATE law. FEDERAL law is 10000#

 

Some radar detectors warn you of emergency vehicle approaching, closed sections of highways, construction delays, school bus approaching and so on. Only DC and Virgina make use of radars illegal.

If you approach a military gate with a radar detector you will be asked to turn it off and/or remove it from its mount and put away. They will not confiscate it or destroy it.

Some have built-in options to keep you awake when your driving for a long time.

 

I'd say that even where they are illegal, they can not destroy it during a traffic stop.

 

yo mike..hes talkin out of his ***..theyre not illegal..at least in cali...ive been next to NUMEROUS cops who have their radars on and im right next to them at a red light and they just look over...yea they dont like it but theyre not illegal...

 

yea i know he didnt know what he was talking about. i just didn't want to argue cause i would look like a " fool " there lol. just wanted to tell you guys what i heard and the story he told us.