Jammers and Detectors

A radar detector is a very important piece of equipment which will allow you to stay one step ahead of the traffic officer. Firstly, note that radar detectors are not permitted in Virginia or the District of Columbia. In those two areas, anyone caught with a radar detector which is accessible to the driver or the passenger with available power will face a $300 fine in the District of Columbia, and between $25 and $100 in Virginia. Also bear in mind that police in those areas will probably confiscate the evidence until your trial

Radar and laser detectors are not legal ANYWHERE in this country for drivers of commercial vehicles.
A radar detector does not make you invincible either. You are still subject to the laws of the country, and a patrol officer usually will not give a warning to someone if they have a radar detector. If used effectively, however, the detector is the best defense against getting a ticket.

Detectors are being upgraded periodically, and are improving quickly. When shopping for a radar detector, there are several factors that you should consider. First, get the widest range of detection that you possibly can, including XK and Ka bands. You need different indicators for each one of these bands and an individual light or sound for each. Ensure that the unit has a good visual display and either a mute or volume button, allowing adjustments according to the ambient sounds in your vehicle. Ideally, look for a unit that has at least 110 decibels (dB) sensitivity. Remember that the most expensive unit is not always the best. Your unit should be mounted on your windshield in a high position, near the vicinity of your rearview mirror. This gives you the widest possible detection range. Use it all the time, not just long journeys. A speed trap can be set up in the city as well as on the highway, so be prepared for anything.

An advantage to keeping your radar detector on in the city is that the more traffic there is, the more often the police have to activate their units. Whenever they activate it, you should be able to know that is the police are nearby. Officers nowadays are moving more and more to the ‘instant on’ type of radar detector. Using this, the officer just has to pull this trigger when you’re in sight and he gets an instant reading of your speed. The police believe this to be an accurate method, but as you read on you will discover that it does have its pitfalls.

If you do get caught in an instant on situation, don’t suddenly brake. Instead, just take your foot off the accelerator and slowly decelerate. If the officer sees that you are screeching to a halt he’ll know that you’ve been speeding. He’ll also know that you have a detector and if you’re in one of the areas of the country where it is illegal, you’ll get a ticket for that too.

The ideal situation is to get a good radar detector, place it high up on your windshield and use it at all times. The benefits of your radar detector far outweigh the problems that it can cause.

Jammers

There are two types of jammers on the market: Passive and Active. Passive jammers are legal because they do not transmit any radio frequencies, whereas active jammers do transmit and are therefore illegal.

The bottom line on passive jammers is not to waste your time or your money with one in the first place. It will not be effective enough for your needs. Get an active jammer, and make sure it’s one that you feel will work as advertised.

Active jammers transmit, they work, and they are illegal. If you are transmitting a radio beam you must have an FCC license. Police departments and local townships are licensed, but the officers don’t actually need to be individually licensed. The radar units that the police use can tell when they are being jammed. Imagine racing down a highway at 100 mph, and your jammer is showing a steady 40 to the officer in his unit. He knows that you’re speeding and he knows that you’re jamming him. When he does pull you over, the speeding ticket won’t be the only thing you will have to worry about.

Laser detectors are legal because laser is a form of light beam and is therefore not a radio frequency. Another good investment for your car would be a laser license plate cover. The police generally aim for your license plate since that is an excellent reflector for their radar unit. Usually your license plate is white and it is highly reflective, giving them a good readout. You can typically buy one of these laser plate covers for about $30.