Laser detectors. Legal to use or not

[Tafia]

Hi folks,

I have read conflicting stuff about this. Several traders sell laser detectors but the laws they quote seem to be from 2006 or earlier. I read there were plans to ban radar and laser detectors but that the plan has been dumped.

Does anyone know for sure? I have not used my Bel 980 for some time due to this and feel that I should. Not that I am a speeder but the local cops are so sneaky with their trap placements, clearly there to catch as many as possible even though the huge majority will be driving safely to the conditions. Why punish safe driving but ignore for three years a local pest who has been riding a motorbike like a lunatic since he was perhaps 14 years old or less

I also have seen ads for "parking sensors" which happen to work on the same frequency as a laser gun. Are they legal due their ability to be used as a parking aid.

Cheers

[ManOpener]

Tafia said:

Hi folks,

I have read conflicting stuff about this. Several traders sell laser detectors but the laws they quote seem to be from 2006 or earlier. I read there were plans to ban radar and laser detectors but that the plan has been dumped.

Does anyone know for sure? I have not used my Bel 980 for some time due to this and feel that I should. Not that I am a speeder but the local cops are so sneaky with their trap placements, clearly there to catch as many as possible even though the huge majority will be driving safely to the conditions. Why punish safe driving but ignore for three years a local pest who has been riding a motorbike like a lunatic since he was perhaps 14 years old or less

I also have seen ads for "parking sensors" which happen to work on the same frequency as a laser gun. Are they legal due their ability to be used as a parking aid.

Cheers

I think (not totally sure) but PASSIVE systems (laser and radar detectors) are legal. Jammers are illegal.

[markmullen]

Detectors are legal in the UK, jammers less so

[Ry_B]

Detectors are legal.

[poing]

ManOpener said:

Tafia said:

Hi folks,

I have read conflicting stuff about this. Several traders sell laser detectors but the laws they quote seem to be from 2006 or earlier. I read there were plans to ban radar and laser detectors but that the plan has been dumped.

Does anyone know for sure? I have not used my Bel 980 for some time due to this and feel that I should. Not that I am a speeder but the local cops are so sneaky with their trap placements, clearly there to catch as many as possible even though the huge majority will be driving safely to the conditions. Why punish safe driving but ignore for three years a local pest who has been riding a motorbike like a lunatic since he was perhaps 14 years old or less

I also have seen ads for "parking sensors" which happen to work on the same frequency as a laser gun. Are they legal due their ability to be used as a parking aid.

Cheers

I think (not totally sure) but PASSIVE systems (laser and radar detectors) are legal. Jammers are illegal.

+1 except a lot of garage door openers work on the same frequency so just happen to work as laser jammers. People have had to prove that they have an electric garage door that works with it in mainland Europe, not sure about the UK though.

[TheEnd]

There was a test case, involving acting on Police transmissions, but it fell on it's face when it was deemed that it is the information in a signal which is the main point, and acting just on the presence wasn't a problem.

[deevlash]

surely if its detecting a laser/radar its too late anyway? or do these things detect the presence of a laser/radar, whether pointed at them or not?

[Blakeatron]

I have heard that some after market forward facing parking sensors can act as a 'jammer' too, not that I would condone such a thing.

[Dave 500]

I think after some research by the powers that be found them to be rubbish at giving you enough warning to be any use and they are now legal.

You need a jammer really but these are illegal however you could use something like the laser park pro.

Best off with a gps device and a good mk1 eyeball

[TheEnd]

deevlash said:

surely if its detecting a laser/radar its too late anyway? or do these things detect the presence of a laser/radar, whether pointed at them or not?

I think all guns are laser now, if not, then a very high proportion. It's unlikely you'd even be able to move your foot before a reading is recorded, but the idea is to catch scattered laser from him targeting the cars infront before.

It's pretty slim, as there isn't much scatter but i suppose any help is better than nothing

Radar detectors will usually spot any hidden gatsos as they make a fair bit of noise

[McSam]

TheEnd said:

It's pretty slim, as there isn't much scatter but i suppose any help is better than nothing

I'd expect there to be a pretty huge amount of scatter, since otherwise the copper would have to aim the detector too precisely for it to be practical?

[Boosted LS1]

Blakeatron said:

I have heard that some after market forward facing parking sensors can act as a 'jammer' too, not that I would condone such a thing.

This is the way to go imo and they switch off after 8 seconds or so, so as not to interfere with the laser incoming signal.

[Citman]

If I recall rightly, the legislation to ban detectors was passed a few years ago now, but it has never been enacted for some reason.

Handheld speed guns shouldn't be pointed at your car unless the officer using them suspects you of speeding by eye first - they can't just point them at every car that passes. Colin Montgomerie managed to get off on a speeding charge using this point a few weeks ago.

Edited by Citman on Sunday 27th June 17:26

[Boosted LS1]

^ They point them at everything coming down the road including a whole group of cars at a time. APCO guidelines are ignored when it comes to cash generation.

[bazking69]

Detectors yes. Jammers very much no.

Also be aware that just carrying a detector in your car in France can land you in a massive amount of trouble...

[billyliar]

I read the adaptive cruise control systems on some cars also act as a jammer because of their frequency. Not sure how true that is.

[Tafia]

Boosted LS1 said:

Blakeatron said:

I have heard that some after market forward facing parking sensors can act as a 'jammer' too, not that I would condone such a thing.

This is the way to go imo and they switch off after 8 seconds or so, so as not to interfere with the laser incoming signal.

Yes and then we don't need to have a garage door opener to prove the need for the device

[S3_Graham]

McSam said:

TheEnd said:

It's pretty slim, as there isn't much scatter but i suppose any help is better than nothing

I'd expect there to be a pretty huge amount of scatter, since otherwise the copper would have to aim the detector too precisely for it to be practical?

I have a Road Angel II and it seems pretty reliable. I have given up using it purely on the fact its a PITA to keep updating and when trying to save money its something i dont NEED. Its still handy to use to get a GPS speed readout for average speed places though.

[LuS1fer]

Waste of time TBH.

Mine (also a Bel) used to detect supermarket sliding doors and for some reason, tractors with flashing lights. It also constantly gave you a heart attack every time it went off and gave you zero peace of mind waiting 7 days to see if it was you. On top of that, it's my view that since laser traps operate at the speed of light, how exactly do they help? Sure, they might detect laser operation some way away but that might equally be a supermarket door and at some point, you have to think "sod it".

I binned mine several years ago and have had a far more stress-free existence.

[Tafia]

deevlash said:

surely if its detecting a laser/radar its too late anyway? or do these things detect the presence of a laser/radar, whether pointed at them or not?

Snooper have a device which they claim can detect laser up to a mile away! Line of sight naturally but the beam must have spread a lot in that distance. Problem we have in N Wales is that the traps seem to be set to catch maximum drivers by targeting areas where folks will be driving to the 85th percentile speed and exceeding a too-low limit or one that has not been correctly set.

The eyeball is not always enough to spot a white van 300 yards away in a lay-by when other vehicles "just happen" to be parked in front of it so that just the upper part is showing.

I was told yesterday by a retired cop that his wife had been done for 32 mph in a 30 limit. She was offered the choice of going on a brain correction course to repent her sins as an alternative to points.

I know many will doubt the 32 in a 30 claim as ACPO suggested some time ago that a leeway of 10% of the limit plus 2 mph should be allowed before prosecution occurs. He is a decent chap and I have no reason to doubt his word. 2 mph? About the width of the speedo needle.