

If you have a radar detector in California, you must mount it on the dashboard. In California, you cannot mount anything to the windshield as it may obstruct the view. In California, radar detectors are legal, but the state does have a say about where they are positioned (Minnesota does too). Radar detectors and laser jammers are legal in Arkansas. There are no limitations for radar detectors in private vehicles in Arizona. Radar detectors and laser jammers are legal in Alaska. Using radar detectors is legal in private vehicles in Alabama. Note that federal law prohibits using radar detectors on military bases in all 50 states. Let’s take a look at radar detection laws by state. Federal law (Section 333 of the Communication Act of 1934) describes radar jammers as a “malicious interference.” Even a first offense can result in heavy fines and jail time. Radar jammers or scramblers are illegal in all 50 states because they interfere with the broad signal law enforcement uses to target speeding vehicles, but they can even cause problems for airplanes. The return signal confuses the laser gun, and as a result, the officer cannot “clock” the driver’s speed. These types of laser guns are much more direct and allow officers to pinpoint a single vehicle more effectively. Laser jammers work by transmitting invisible light sources back to the original police laser gun (or LiDAR gun) to confuse it. But since there is no federal law banning them, they can be used in other states. Laser Jammers are illegal to use in California, Illinois, Colorado, Minnesota, Oklahoma, Nebraska, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington D.C. The ban on radar detectors, enacted by the Federal Highway Administration in 1994, is meant to discourage such large trucks from speeding. If you are operating an 18-wheeler for the purpose of interstate commerce, radar detectors are absolutely illegal inside the cab, even if the unit is off. In commercial vehicles under 10,000 lbs., radar detectors are allowed in all states except for Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Radar detectors are illegal in any commercial vehicle weighing over 10,000 lbs., no matter what state you’re driving in. Are Radar Detectors Legal In Commercial Vehicles? Police can also confiscate radar detectors on the spot if they stop you.

According to the Virginian-Pilot, you could face up to a $250 fine for violating the law. If the unit is off and in the trunk, for example, you should be in the clear. According to Virginia law, it’s okay to have a radar detector as long as it’s not accessible to the vehicle’s occupants and there is no power source. However, there are some gray areas regarding the laws in Virginia and the District of Columbia. Using a radar detector in a privately owned passenger vehicle is legal in every state except Iowa, Virginia, and Washington D.C. This guide will look at the radar detector laws for all 50 U.S. Laser jammers are widely considered legal but are subject to a few more restrictions than radar detectors, depending on the state. Radar detectors are mostly legal in the United States, but there are some exceptions.
