Are Radar Detectors illegal

**xzaero0** · 04-06-2008, 11:24 PM

Are radar detectors illegal? I read the manual that came with mine a few years ago and it explained that they weren't. It had something to do with recieving radio waves and not giving off interference. Does anyone know if it is true or is it just a "selling point"?

**jimmybling31** · 04-07-2008, 12:37 AM

they are legal anywhere aside from virginia

**Too Fast** · 04-07-2008, 02:49 AM

Not legal in Canada either.

**fluke** · 04-07-2008, 03:03 AM

In the US there are some states that don't allow them - VA being one of the main one, they police that like nazis there. I've gotten away with it in VA, but I only because I'd forget I had it up there and didn't take it down for a while.

**Method** · 04-07-2008, 04:31 AM

Yea, that's probably some bullshit that the company makes up to increase their sales, but I wouldn't want to fight that in court with a little manual that was included with the product.

I know in Canada we have I think Alberta, and probably the Northwest Territories.

**chuck4345** · 04-07-2008, 07:16 AM

legal here in tennessee but the cops make smart remarks about them lol but they didnt catch speeding just dark tint hahahaha

**ndt/oos** · 04-07-2008, 07:32 AM

only illegal if you get caught........

**Orcus79** · 04-07-2008, 04:04 PM

As far as I'm aware they are legal all through out Canada, if they are illegal any where, I doubt you would be pulled over for having it unless the cop pulled up beside you at alight or something or saw it when the busted you for speeding.

**xzaero0** · 04-07-2008, 08:41 PM

I had just heared that they local town police were giving tickets to people with them. AS far as I know they are legal here in Nebraska and I understand that if you get cuaght with one the police think that you are a stop speed addict and any hope of not getting at ticket goes out the window.
I really dont use mine as something to judge when I speed. Most usually I don't speed or hot rod it around. They seemed to like to follow me around, even before I started modding. I only got it just so I knew when they were around, so just incase I decided to do something foolish I would know I would have a better chance not to get caught.

**HB of CJ** · 04-09-2008, 12:56 PM

Constitutionally speaking (USA) they should be completely legal. Problem is that when you submit to a driver's license, tags, plates, insurance, etc., you have voluntarily given up your constitutional guarantees and have entered the corporate law region that governs soss much of our daily lives. Bottom line is that the several states have no legal standing, but pass all sorts of rules that we have aggreed to aggree to. Prohibiting radar/laser/lidar detectors is one of them. Of course, practically speaking, you have to be caught. He he he.

**oo7steven** · 04-10-2008, 02:51 PM

I also believe that if you connect them to the windshield in California they are illegal. If you dash mount them in that state they are then legal.

**LgndKller20073** · 04-11-2008, 12:37 PM

if you use a radar detector, which one do you use? I've been looking at the phazer 2 or something like that. does it really matter which one you get or are they all virtually the same?

**jimmybling31** · 04-11-2008, 01:01 PM

Originally Posted by LgndKller20073

if you use a radar detector, which one do you use? I've been looking at the phazer 2 or something like that. does it really matter which one you get or are they all virtually the same?

I have no clue. my cobra (150 dollars from wallmart) picks up cope miles away. I don't really use it anymore though. lol

**TA421** · 04-11-2008, 01:08 PM

have a Great radar unit for sale in the general sale area http://www.ls1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=82960

**oo7steven** · 04-11-2008, 07:24 PM

http://www.radartest.com/ is worth a look. Do not go cheap. If your gonna do it do it right. A cheap one is more likely to not alert you until you are on top of the cop and basically already being hit. I have been partial to the bel sti since I have seen it in a friends car. Seemed better than the valentine. I have this little crappy cobra that Cost me about $150 from radioshack (best model they had at the time). It throws a deal of false alarms and the cheaper you go the worse it generally gets (depending on your area). It barely alerts in a quarter of the time as the bel sti. The sti is pricey, but you figure in the cost of one ticket and the insurance premium for the next 3-5 years and it paid for itself several times over. Also, if you know anyone with one in your area ask what band the cops use. Generally around here X is always an automatic door or radio signal (etc. thus a false alarm), K and Ka are generally cops. Ku is coming to America so you might want to be prepared by getting a unit with ku support. The Staties around here in the past 5 months or so have been throwing random ku's. Research some about them, pop and laser. The last time I checked there is really no defense against laser. The couple detectors that claimed it were lies.

**Z ROADSTER** · 04-11-2008, 07:46 PM

My first one was a Bell battery operated so I could mount it up high on the w/s close to the mirror . Lasted 10 years & cost $350.00 . Saved my ass numerous times . Felt naked when it finally craped out . waited several months to be convinced to by another one after two speeding tickets I bought a Pass-port battery operated for another $350.00 & now I won't drive without one . Not that I speed all the time , its just that I want to know where they are hiding in case I want to nail it every once in a while . My Pass Port will hit on em about a mile ahead & behind , usually way before I can see em . Gives me plenty of time to slow down .

**Wesman** · 04-11-2008, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by oo7steven

http://www.radartest.com/ is worth a look. Do not go cheap. If your gonna do it do it right. A cheap one is more likely to not alert you until you are on top of the cop and basically already being hit. I have been partial to the bel sti since I have seen it in a friends car. Seemed better than the valentine. I have this little crappy cobra that Cost me about $150 from radioshack (best model they had at the time). It throws a deal of false alarms and the cheaper you go the worse it generally gets (depending on your area). It barely alerts in a quarter of the time as the bel sti. The sti is pricey, but you figure in the cost of one ticket and the insurance premium for the next 3-5 years and it paid for itself several times over. Also, if you know anyone with one in your area ask what band the cops use. Generally around here X is always an automatic door or radio signal (etc. thus a false alarm), K and Ka are generally cops. Ku is coming to America so you might want to be prepared by getting a unit with ku support. The Staties around here in the past 5 months or so have been throwing random ku's. Research some about them, pop and laser. The last time I checked there is really no defense against laser. The couple detectors that claimed it were lies.

They now have laser blockers/jammers that actually work as advertised.

Check these out:

http://www.radarbusters.com/laser-jammers/6524+6527.cfm

The Blinder M25 is 100% effective against laser guns.

**volleybill** · 04-11-2008, 09:12 PM

Also illegal in Rhode Island, and in New York in commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs- the police have a radar detector detector, VG-2 IIRC- most detectors give off some radar emmsions from the tuned circuits required to receive radar- a good detector will sometimes register a false on someone else's detector, if it is a cheap one spewing microwaves all over

Getting caught with any jammer would be a legal nightmare- talk about intent to break the law, obstructing police work, etc- you would pay for that, big time! Some work, to varying degrees, most are just scams- easier and more legal, or less illegal to interfere with laser, just a beam of infared light- you can blind the gun to it's own return, or make your car very un-reflective- lots of stealth stuff made, but read tests before you decide to buy- again, many unscrupulous manufacturers just out to make a buck.

**jimmybling31** · 04-11-2008, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by Wesman

They now have laser blockers/jammers that actually work as advertised.

Check these out:

http://www.radarbusters.com/laser-jammers/6524+6527.cfm

The Blinder M25 is 100% effective against laser guns.

have you tested it?

**Wesman** · 04-14-2008, 10:46 AM

Originally Posted by jimmybling31

have you tested it?

Personally?? No.

But the website I posted has tested tons of laser and radar jammers, such as those from "Rocky Mountain Radar", of which none of them work at all. The Blinder and Escort are the only ones that they've proven to work as advertised.

There are Youtube videos showing them in action being tested as well, check it out.