Although police can use either radar or laser guns to determine your speed, there are distinct differences in how they are used and the laws regarding how drivers may protect themselves from a speeding ticket.
The FCC governs police radar guns (Federal Communications Commission). They use radio frequencies that can travel great distances, making it easy for radar detectors to pick up their signal and slow down in plenty of time to avoid a speeding ticket. The FCC strictly prohibits radar jamming. It is a federal offense with a fine of up to $10,000 for each conviction.
Laser jammers fall under the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) jurisdiction, and there are NO federal laws prohibiting the use of laser jammers. However, some states have laws on the books that ban laser jammers.
Where Are Laser Jammers Illegal?
The following states have laws against using laser jammers. It is K40’s experience that these laws are rarely enforced.
This law states that any person purchasing or using FOUR OR MORE devices to jam police laser is guilty of a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine. K40 recommends using three Laser Defuser Optix transponders on a vehicle in California.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Police officers can confiscate the devices. Being found guilty of violating this law is a Class 2 Misdemeanor, punishable with a fine.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Police officers can confiscate the devices. Being found guilty of violating this law is a Petty Offense, punishable with a $50 fine.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Being found guilty of violating this law is a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine of up to $1000.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Police officers can confiscate the devices. Being found guilty of violating this law is a Class B or C Misdemeanor.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Being found guilty of violating this law is a Class C Misdemeanor.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Being found guilty of violating this law is a Class C Misdemeanor.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Police officers can confiscate the devices. No demerit points will be issued for violating this law.
All radar/laser jamming is illegal. Police officers can confiscate the devices.
What Are My Options If I Live In A State Where Laser Jammers Are Illegal?
K40 has retail partners actively selling Laser Defusers in all of the above states.
Because of the compact design of K40’s Laser Defuser Optix, they are installed discreetly in your vehicle’s front grill area, making them difficult to detect by law enforcement.
A K40 Retailer can deliver the vehicle to the customer in the Receive Only mode, which will only alert the driver when a police laser gun targets the vehicle, but will not jam.
The customer may choose to leave it in Receive Only or switch it to Pulse Transmit mode, which will cause the officer’s gun to receive an error message for approximately five seconds and then turn itself off, allowing the officer to obtain a speed reading.
This setting is a good choice for the above states as it lessens the officer’s suspicions of a jammer being present.
Connect With Us To Explore All Your Options
K40 Electronics invented laser jamming in 1994 and has been on the leading edge of technology to continually improve the laser countermeasure category. K40’s radar and laser experts are available to answer your questions at 800-323-5608.
FAQs
Pennsylvania
Can police detect laser jammers? ›
A laser jammer is a device that returns a “no response” or a cosine error when a police LIDAR gun is used to target a vehicle. When the LIDAR gun shows this error, an officer won't know whether a vehicle is equipped with a laser jammer, or whether they simply didn't aim correctly at the vehicle.
Are radar detectors and jammers illegal? ›
However, drivers must be aware of the distinction between radar detectors, which are permissible, and radar jammers, which are illegal under both state and federal laws due to their interference with law enforcement equipment.
Are laser jammers legal in OK? ›
It shall be unlawful for any person to use or possess a jammer. C. It shall be unlawful to manufacture, advertise or offer for sale, sell or otherwise distribute any jammer in this state.
Are laser blockers illegal in Texas? ›
Answer: Yes, there's an instrument called a radar jammer or laser jammer scrambler, and that device is totally illegal to operate in the state of Texas.
What happens if a cop sees your radar detector? ›
Plus, if you have a radar detector mounted on the windshield in California, the police may stop you and issue a ticket. Generally, the detector is placed in the middle, above the dashboard, or under the rearview mirror. There should be no obstacles between the device and the windshield.
What states allow laser jammers? ›
Laser jammers are not permitted in the following states: California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Virginia.
In what states is it illegal to have radar detectors? ›
Installing a radar detector in a privately owned passenger vehicle is legal in California and all states, with the exception of Virginia and Washington DC. However, California law states that the device cannot be installed on the windshield in a manner that obstructs the driver's view of the road.
Do laser jammers really work? ›
Laser jammers remain an effective, albeit not inexpensive nor foolproof, countermeasure against police laser traffic enforcement.
Is it illegal to possess a signal jammer? ›
The use of a phone jammer, GPS blocker, or other signal jamming device designed to intentionally block, jam, or interfere with authorized radio communications is a violation of federal law. There are no exemptions for use within a business, classroom, residence, or vehicle.
Active radar jammers work on the principle of actively transmitting an interfering signal meant to overwhelm the natural doppler-shifted frequencies returned to the police radar gun, that occur from reflected waves that police RADAR employ to obtain a vehicle's speed.
What is the difference between radar and laser jammer? ›
You really should do both if you're going to do it and it's legal where you live. One detects radar which gives you some time to slow down usually due to the wide band. Laser Jammer blocks the narrow band that has an almost immediate lock on your speed. Laser detection without jamming won't help if you're speeding.
Can you jam laser in Florida? ›
Laser and radar jammers are NOT permitted in Florida.
However, radar detectors are perfectly legal in Florida vehicles. They are only prohibited in commercial vehicles that weigh over 10,000 lbs.
Why doesn't my radar detector go off when I pass a cop? ›
There's a good chance the police car wasn't radar-equipped (90 percent carry no radar). Or if it was, most officers shut off the radar while they're out of the car on a traffic stop or when using it in instant-on mode.
Why are laser jammers illegal? ›
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.
Is filming police officers illegal in Texas? ›
What the law says about filming Texas police. Texans have the constitutional right under the First Amendment to record anything in plain view from public spaces, including the police, according to the Webb Firm.
Can jammers be detected? ›
Without highly advanced, military-level technology at hand, it is virtually impossible for the average consumer to definitively detect a cell phone jammer. However, if you suspect illegal activity of this sort, contact law enforcement or file a complaint with the FCC.
Will a laser pointer set off a radar detector? ›
And of course, since laser is being used and not radar, the detector will never alert “Radar” as a result of a laser shot.
Can radar jamming be detected? ›
Any system can be fooled with a jamming signal but a properly trained operator pays attention to the raw video signal and can detect abnormal patterns on the radar screen.
Can police use signal jammers? ›
Jamming Prohibited
Local law enforcement agencies do not have independent authority to use jamming equipment; in certain limited exceptions use by Federal law enforcement agencies is authorized in accordance with applicable statutes.
