Are automated garage door openers / diffusers - ever LEGAL?

[joelk]

Hi there,


Does anyone know the definative answer to if (and how) the use of Automated Gate / Garage Door open are legal?

I've just bought a second hand car (from a reputable main dealer), which has had such a system professionally fitted either side of the numberplate, with a connected on/off switch on the dash. I have electric gates and garage at home, which are all currently set to a clicker, which I have to scrabble round for each time I come home, or leave the house.

The system seems like a good idea - but I hear that it's illegal to use because it stops police speed / radar guns obtaining a measure on my speed? If I have it removed, it will leave a hole in the dash.

Common sense says I should be able to use it- but the law maybe disagrees? I've read of a few cases where the owners of such devices have had hefty fines or even been banned for having them switched on when they've been caught in police speed traps.

Does anyone the accurate LEGAL postion on the use of them?


Many thanks,


Joel Kaufman.

[Highway61]

There is no problem with using the device as a garage door opener however if you happen to have it switched on when you go past a speed enforcement device and it interferes you need to be prepared to explain why it was switched on and interfering.

If you interpret it as being legal then there are alternate interpretations that have resulted in undesireable outcomes: Speed gun jammer earns driver ban
I think the technical Police term is "taking the p#*s", give it a run and let's know how you get on.

[joelk]

But the fella in the article you list there didn't use it for its proper function, on his garage doors at home. I would be.

Edited by joelk on Tuesday 18th September 09:02

[tigger1]

Fine to have them - IF (and only if) you use them solely for opening your gate / door.

As said above, if you have it on and get 'lasered' the police can tell the signal has been jammed (apparently) by way of an error code, and will be asking questions...this is what can lead to trouble.

[Bing o]

tigger1 said:

Fine to have them - IF (and only if) you use them solely for opening your gate / door.

As said above, if you have it on and get 'lasered' the police can tell the signal has been jammed (apparently) by way of an error code, and will be asking questions...this is what can lead to trouble.

So you drive by a speed trap at 65 in a 70. The operator (failing to use prior opinion) scams you, and can't get a "missile" lock.

Suddenly, for not breaking any law you end up in shite, and the plod have another crime detection stat.

Well it beats catching rapists...

[havoc]

The answer, as they see it, is "Don't forget to switch it off once you've opened your garage door / elec gates, and we won't have any trouble*..."

In a court of law...you'd be defending a non-speeding charge (PCoJ?!?) with the defence "I forgot to switch it off, and it's fitted for a genuine purpose not to try and avoid speed traps." It'd then be up to the court to decide if they believed you enough to introduce reasonable doubt into the case...

...and I wouldn't want to advise you any further than that...

• ...catching you doing 5mph over a stupidly low limit anyway...

[bryan35]

also remember, that a car that creates a 'no reading' or 'jam' or amything other than a reading when lasered gets flagged up with DVLC. Get more than 1 and they may come round at 6am one sunday morning and take your car away for a bit of a look.

[Bing o]

bryan35 said:

also remember, that a car that creates a 'no reading' or 'jam' or amything other than a reading when lasered gets flagged up with DVLC. Get more than 1 and they may come round at 6am one sunday morning and take your car away for a bit of a look.

Good to know that violent crime is at such a low level that they can afford to spend the reources on these offences.

[EU_Foreigner]

Don't agree with the last posting (edit - posting before last ). I have played with LTI 20/20, and it is not easy to get a reading on a flat sports car. If for every non-reading they would record the event, it would prove even more that the device is fallable ...

It is all about taking the p*ss as someone else said. Unless you blatenly abuse your invisibility - there should not be any problem.

Edited by EU_Foreigner on Tuesday 18th September 13:19

[DPX]

I was not aware the UK govement had any rights to ban equipment that raidiates in the IR spectrum. OK if you are walking around with a 10,000 KW death ray then yes ..

I cannot wait for the first super 4 x 4 living room on wheels that is fitted with rear seat televisions that gets nicked for some bored 5 year old surfing dvd tracks with the remote.... while knocking out a 20/20.

Come on BiB take in the remote from home and point the at 20/20 make some readings... then change channel one of these little beasties that gets lost down the setee. One brand will become famous .

[bryan35]

agree about the problems getting a reading. However, if you point it at a car that should easilly get a reading, and you've got readings from other vehicles (the videos show how they fire the gun at everything that moves to try to get a fine) and you try and try again and still get nothing, then up goes a flag. They aint going to waste time unless they're pretty sure you're up to no good.

As for good use of resources - depends which box you can tick, cos that's what it's about - boxes. Not policing.

[skymaster]

I often wonder if many of these stories of people being screwed by the law for using jammers are exagerated or simply propaganda. It's in their interests after all. When using an LTI error codes crop up for many reasons. If they noted each one down and made these visits then there would be plenty of cases where no jammer was actually fitted but just a random error occuring.

I remember one company boasting if sales in the 1000s fro their jamming products, there must be lots on the roads.

As far as I knew people would only get such a visit if their car was continuously targeted but a speed reading never taken. It's a sad state of affairs that the police waste their valuable time on these cases when there are so many crimes that are actually a menance to society that dont get investigated.

[Tino]

If you are worried about leaving it switched on, simply replace the click switch with a push to make switch. You have to keep it held whole the doors open, but you won't forget to switch it off.

[EU_Foreigner]

Over 10000 units have been sold of various makes. Only one person got convicted for not having a garage door. Think that sort of proves it that not every non-reading is followed by a home visit and prosecution.