Are Radar Detectors Legal in Cali?

[Jims5543]

I will be in Palm Springs and San Diego later this week and next week and want to take my V-1 with me. Are radar detectors legal in Cali?

I don't expect to drive like a madman just don't want to get caught in a speed trap.

I am renting a Mini van although I would prefer a Durango. I just thought the Mini van would do better on gas and have more room for my family + my parents.

[pwd72s]

I didn't ask when down there in '01, but I ran a V-1 in plain sight on the windshield of the '72S and had zero cop hassles. Took it off when parked of course, for fear of theft.

[EdT82SC]

They are legal though some police don't like them. Last year when passing through a DUI checkpoint the officer commented on it, and advised me not to exceed the speed limit. I told him I wouldn't. As far as I know the only state they are not legal is Virginia.

[speeder]

100% legal in CA., (and every other state minus Virginia I believe). As for a police officer commenting on it, that's a non-issue. It's a free country, anyone can say (just about) anything.

[RoninLB]

Originally posted by Jims5543

I will be in Palm Springs and San Diego later this week and next week and want to take my V-1 with me.

I don't expect to drive like a madman just don't want to get caught in a speed trap.

the big roads won't be a prob. Calif HP are more into road saftey than revenue collection. The town traps are much more likely to get you.

[david914]

I still don't understand how they can get away with making them illegal here in Virginia. To my knowledge, under FCC rules, you have the right to receive any kind of radio signal that is broadcast (in this case, radar). I do know guys that still run radar here, and only one has actually been pulled over for it. All they can do is give you a ticket (no confiscation).

[RickM]

Illegal in DC as well. Used to be in CT but no longer.
Illegal to use in any commercial vehicle over 10k lbs, anywhere. Also illegal on military bases.

[84porsche]

Originally posted by SoCal911SC
I don't even remember the last time I've seen a cop with a radar gun monitoring traffic.

In So. Cal., radar is rarely used on the highways. For a long time, the highway patrol didn't use radar on the highways at all. I think that rule changed, but it still seems very, very rare.

Radar is definately not used out here as much as it is the Eastern states, where it seems they use it on a lot of the highways and a detector is very useful.

The local police in Orange, Anaheim and other North OC cities are heavy on the radar use and jerks about it too. Why do I know this, because I have a ticket sitting on my desk from 4 days ago. I only wish I had my radar detector with me, it was in the Porsche and my stupidity will cost me. Radar detectors are a necessity in CA if you believe in driving with the flow of traffic because IMO at any given moment you will get pulled over and tagged for unsafe speed for even 5 miles over the limit.

[red-beard]

Originally posted by RickM
Illegal in DC as well. Used to be in CT but no longer.
Illegal to use in any commercial vehicle over 10k lbs, anywhere. Also illegal on military bases.

Also New York, for commercial vehicles. And all of Canada...

No one in Mexico has said anything yet, but I haven't seen radar in use much. Usually, when I'm in Mexico, I get pulled over for "Driving while Gringo".

James

[grudk]

Just drove the I-5 L.A. to S.F. and back this weekend, and Valentine One was in action the whole time.

NUMEROUS Ka band radar alerts (over ten visualised black and whites with full signal). All the radar guns were in moving vehicles, no 'traps' (though I've seen those before on the I-5, too). Passed four cars being written up. Friend recently bought 110 mph ticket on the I-5 from an aircraft -- that one landed him in court, and almost cost him his license.

V1 is a lifesaver

Have seen radar on Westside L.A. sidestreets as well, and PCH, 101. Seem to be fewer traffic cops in the city itself these days, now that the many cameras bring in so much revenue. Though there was one morning earlier this year when I passed FOUR radar traps over five miles on Wilshire alone (in addition to the four traffic cams over the same route). They love to sit on bikes at the 76 station by the Wishire CC and tag speeders in the school zone

Rarely seem to catch radar on the I-10 or I-15.

[John Lyon]

I understand the CHP usually get you by pacing you (no radar), but this is not 100% true. My motorcycle buddy's detector saved us both from a ticket on the 101 near Thousand Oaks two weekends ago.

But once you get off the freeways, there is definitely radar used in places like Angeles Crest Highway and on city streets. If you're strictly driving on the interstates, just blend in and keep your eyes on the rearview mirror. This has worked for me for 18 years in CA - no tickets.

[mikester]

Originally posted by red-beard
Also New York, for commercial vehicles. And all of Canada...

No one in Mexico has said anything yet, but I haven't seen radar in use much. Usually, when I'm in Mexico, I get pulled over for "Driving while Gringo".

James

It's the yellow car syndrome I'm sure.

[campbellcj]

There is heavy radar use around here; both CHP and LACo Sheriff. The Sheriff also has some laser guns. I see speed traps on PCH usually once a week if not more.

[Bobboloo]

Beverly Hills, and LAPD have cycle cops running radar traps all the time. Big source of revenue and it keeps the herd under control. I just stay in the middle of the herd so I don't get picked off.

West Hollywood focuses more on parking inforcement. Were talking millions on parking tickets just for the little city of West Hollywood. I don't think they even write their own tickets. They sub contract to a private company that cruises writes you up and collects for the city. Big business.

[red-beard]

Originally posted by mikester
It's the yellow car syndrome I'm sure.

Yeah, yellow cars go faster....

[Tim Polzin]

Originally posted by red-beard
Also New York, for commercial vehicles. And all of Canada...

Perfectly legal in Alberta, Canada....ever since the Provincial Justice Minister got nailed for speeding in the late 80's.

Tim

[mikester]

Originally posted by red-beard
Yeah, yellow cars go faster....

Man - that's the best picture ever.

[campbellcj]

Coincidentally I was zapped with instant-on Ka band on the way to work this morning. FWIW. The revenue collectors are out in force these days.

Knock-on-wood, I haven't had a moving violation since 1998 or so...I largely thank the V1

[kang]

Originally posted by campbellcj
Coincidentally I was zapped with instant-on Ka band on the way to work this morning. FWIW. The revenue collectors are out in force these days.

Knock-on-wood, I haven't had a moving violation since 1998 or so...I largely thank the V1

Were you using your V1? If so, were there other cars on the road ahead of you? The V1 is supposed to catch reflections off of other cars when they get zapped so that you get some warning before it’s your turn.

I’ve had my V1 for a month or so now, and I’m amazed at the lack of warning I get in some situations. I crested a hill once and got hit with constant on radar. The only reason I didn’t get a ticket was because the cop was on the other side, writing a ticket for another guy. He left his radar on. The V1 manual clearly says you get warnings “well before the crest of the hill.” But I got no warning at all.

In another case, I passed a minor accident on the way home. There were cops there who had left their radars on. I had some time, so I made a few passes just to check my V1. I didn’t get warnings until I was really close, close enough so that they could have easily tagged me.

I’ve also seen moving radar on the highways. I don’t get a warning until I am within about one-half mile, and that is line of sight flat terrain, with the radar pointed right at me. I thought it was supposed to give you far more warning than that.

[84porsche]

Originally posted by campbellcj
Coincidentally I was zapped with instant-on Ka band on the way to work this morning. FWIW. The revenue collectors are out in force these days.

Knock-on-wood, I haven't had a moving violation since 1998 or so...I largely thank the V1

What is the instant-on Ka band? Is this new to fight radar detectors? I have an older Beltronics 980 that detects Ka but I want to make sure I have max coverage now because I would like to avoid another ticket if possible. I know slowing down is always the easiest but still nice to know when you are being tagged.