Radar and Laser Speed Detector Laws

Every year, many people purchase radar detectors to help protect them from being zapped by a police radar gun or laser speed detector. You should know, however that there are legal issues with the use of these devices in all 50 states and violating those laws could cost you money.

States where radar detectors are banned.
The National Conference of State Legislatures state that radar detectors are banned in all vehicles in the state of Virginia and the District of Columbia. Radar detectors are also banned in big trucks in the states of New York and Illinois. In addition, under federal law, the use of these types of devices is illegal in all commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds. Before buying a radar or laser detector you should look at the particular laws in your state and municipality.

Don’t ignore the law.
In states and areas where radar detectors are illegal, law enforcement agencies often have devices that scan for frequencies emitting from your detector. If you are caught with an illegal detector, be prepared to pay a huge fine, have your device confiscated and possibly see an increase in your auto insurance rates.

Radar & Laser Jammers.
Radar & Laser Jammers are designed to emit signals to interfere with police radar or laser gun readings. On top of the fact that they are illegal in most states, many experts report that they often don’t function as promised.

Stealth Coatings.
A Stealth Coating is a laser absorbent paint that can be applied to your headlights and license plates to reduce near infrared laser light reflections. The coating is designed to reduce the possibility that LIDAR laser speed detectors will tag your car. When applied to treated areas, the paint is designed to act as a shield, blacking out any areas that could potentially be picked up by a police laser gun.

Are these devices safe?
The debate continues surrounding the safety of radar and laser speed guns. On one side, there are those who believe the devices help prevent speeding and accidents, while others feel they are just an excuse to speed. In all cases, speeding is dangerous. Statistically speaking, speeders are more likely to be involved in accidents than those who consistently obey the law.

There are, however, statistics supporting the use of detectors. In a survey conducted by Yankelovich Clancy Shulman, users had 23 percent fewer accidents per mile traveled than nonusers, and drove almost 60,000 miles farther between accidents.

Know your limit
There will always be devices out there to try to help people beat the system. But in the end, one fact remains: Following the designated speed limits is always the safer way to go. If you are going on a vacation or business trip, you can find out the speed limit for the state(s) to which you are traveling by accessing the National Motorists Association’s website. Here you will find the mandated speed limits for both cars and trucks.

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