Facts About Radar Detectors
Radar detectors are generally used by noncommercial motorists to detect whether the speed of their vehicle is being monitored by a law enforcement officer. Most detectors are capable of detecting radar equipment on any wavelength. It is not illegal to equip a noncommercial vehicle with a detector in the United States except in Virginia and Washington, D.C.
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Function
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Law enforcement radar guns use Doppler radar, which transmits a radio wave at a specific vehicle, then bounces back to measure the speed of the vehicle.
Nondetectable Radar
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Some law agencies bypass using speed radar equipment by employing a computerized stopwatch or cameras that recognize plate numbers to record and identify speeders.
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GPS
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Detectors can be quipped with GPS technology that allows the user to store common locations where radar is used or the locations of speed cameras.
Jamming
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Radar jammers are used to interfere with Doppler radar by scrambling the radio wave and are illegal under federal law.
No Commercial Use
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It is illegal in the United States for big-rig truck drivers or any commercial-licensed vehicles to use radar detectors.
Law Varies Elsewhere
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European law varies in each country regarding laws regulating or banning the use of a radar detector. Heavy fines are possible in France, Finland, Germany and Greece.
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Resources
- Photo Credit rainydaymagazine.com, europeancarweb.com
