Are radar detectors legal???

[SoCal Rebell]

I am in California and just bought a Valentine 1, could I get a ticket for having one if I get pulled over?

 

[Steve Ferguson]

I think it depends on each States laws? I know in some Midwest States that they are considered illegal. Do you have a friend who practices Law in your State.

Andy can you chime in on this?

 

[KingSnake97]

You have to call your local and surrounding area police departments. In some states yes it is legal and others it's not, it carries a big fine and you will lose your radar. A lot of viper owners in Chicago have them built in the dash looks very neat and unless you now what your looking for you can't see it. I't has just two little lights one on each side of the radio.

 

[Matt M PA]

SoCal...they are legal in just about every state. If memory serves me, only two states consider them illegal...Virginia and Massachussetts. The other issue with them is that technically they are radio receivers...they only receive a signal..much like a radio. I think that is the loophole that makes them legal in most states. To more directly answer your question...I understand that they are legal in CA. But, if you get pulled over with one...I'd bet you have a better chance of getting written.

 

[BWoodbury]

I have heard quite a few cops say that they are in favor of radar detectors. Their theory is that every time one goes off, the driver slows down. And it is hard to be against anything that makes drivers slow down.

 

[Tom Shapiro]

They are legal in Illinois according to a state trooper. However, he said they can't be mounted on the windshield or placed on top of the dashboard because they block the field of vision. Either hardwired or clipped to your sun visor is fine.

 

[slaughterj]

In addition to VA, they are illegal in DC. If you go fast enough, they won't catch you using it though

 

[Ron]

<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">From the Valentine One web site:

"You still have the right to know when you're under radar surveillance almost everywhere in the US. The exceptions are Virginia, which bans detector use, and nearby Washington, D.C., which bans possession. Canada is much less friendly toward civil liberties. Detectors are banned everywhere except British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan."
</FONT f>

 

[Vip-RT10]

Legal in Florida........

 

[BigsViper]

I've gotten two tickets in the last month! OUCH!!! I have a V-1 and it has saved my a$$ many times. These last two tickets I was going much faster than ticketed because I almost flat-spotted the tires shutting 'er down (1st = 110 to 81 in a 60; 2nd = 125 to 81 in a 70, threshhold braking must let up at 81). Both times the officer/trooper mentioned my detector, the first time I had put it under the seat when I saw him coming,; he asked "you have a radar detector, right?" Me - "yes how'd you know?" Him - "As soon as I hit the button I saw your brake lights!"

Both times the boy's spent more time admiring the car and asking questions than they did writing the ticket, BUT THEY STILL WROTE ME UP!! Thought about charging them admission!!!! LOL

 

[motomike]

I've had a radar detectors in my cars for a long time with mixed results. I know of only two states where they are officially illegal. That is Virginia and Connecticut.

Some time back, a friend had pulled to the side of road in Connecticut when a cop happened to pull up. The cop saw the unit and took the unit right then and there.

I have never had a hassle with it when I've been stopped by a cop. However, when I drive in VA and CT, I do take the precaution of concealing it from sight.

When a cop has stopped me, they don't even see the thing as they are too interested in lecturing me, or imposing their authority on me, or they are just very straightforward as far as writing me a ticket.

I do know that if the cops confiscate it, don't bother trying to get it back cause it's long gone.

 

[Ken Larsen]

A couple of cops I talked to had to say this about radar detectors "Consider the radar detector your warning. If I pull you over and was going to give you a warning and see you have a detector, it becomes a ticket!"

 

[Ulysses]

I just checked the Vehicle Code. There is no reference to detectors in there for California, just jamming and speed measuring devices.

 

[RoyV101621]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ken Larsen:
If I pull you over and was going to give you a warning and see you have a detector, it becomes a ticket!"

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Police figure you would not need a radar detector unless you are a habitual offender.

 

[phiebert]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Ron:
<FONT face="Comic Sans MS">From the Valentine One web site:

"You still have the right to know when you're under radar surveillance almost everywhere in the US. The exceptions are Virginia, which bans detector use, and nearby Washington, D.C., which bans possession. Canada is much less friendly toward civil liberties. Detectors are banned everywhere except British Columbia, Alberta, and Saskatchewan."
</FONT f>

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Since I live in British Columbia and work in Alberta I am OK and have had many cops comment on the detector but not be able to do anything about it. However, I did travel across Manitoba (another Canadian province) where detectors are illegal. I was stopped by a cop and he took the detector. I was actually able to get the detector back by telling him that I wasn't using it in his province and that where I live and work the detector is legal. He called his boss and was told to give it back to me.

So if you are driving in one of the states where they are illegal and they try to take it, tell them you don't use it in those states and only turn it on where it is legal. It's worth a shot, it worked for me.