Speed-trap alert 'not illegal'
20/11/2007 07:47 - (SA)


Johannesburg - A businessman who was arrested because his Porsche Cayenne was equipped with an anti-speed-trap device that could interfere with speed readouts, has been allowed to pay an admission-of-guilt fine.

Moto Mabanga was arrested by Ekurhuleni metro police on Sunday and charged with attempting to defeat the ends of justice, after suspicions arose that he was using a device to impede an accurate speed-trap readout.

His vehicle was also impounded.

Mabanga claimed the unit had been fitted to the car by the manufacturers.

Jessica Baker for Porsche said on Monday that they knew that some owners fitted the devices "to keep a check on their speed while on the roads".

"They are not on our list of approved accessories for any Porsche model," she said.

'No law against the devices'

Mabanga, who appeared in Germiston Magistrate's Court on Monday, was fined R500 and ordered to remove the unit.

But legal adviser Bokka Potgieter said there was no law prohibiting the possession, or use, of such a device.

"People who are caught with them are charged with defeating the ends of justice.

"All the cases I know about have been thrown out of court so far because the State has said it would be too expensive to get a specialist to explain how the device worked, and to test its effect on a radar speed-trap."

He said it would impossible to prove if a motorist was exceeding the speed limit, because the device scrambled the speed-reading equipment for a short period, giving the motorist the chance to reduce speed.

Potgieter said the metro police, therefore, could not prove the motorist had exceeded the speed limit, and could not claim the driver was trying to defeat the ends of justice.

Beeld newspaper heard from an industry expert that updated versions of the devices served to warn motorists of closing distances, which were useful in parking or driving in traffic, and not only to spot speed traps or to scramble them.

A range of anti-radar systems were available on the South African market.

The most basic could spot other laser beams at a distance, and warned motorists they would be within range within a few seconds.

Scrambles the reading

This gave the motorist a chance to slow down.

More advanced and more expensive devices emitted laser signals in response to those of a speed trap.

The signal scrambled its readings, giving the motorist an opportunity to slam on the brakes.

Another expert said modern high-speed cameras immediately indicated the use of most such equipment, although the most-modern units, which also served as parking sensors, could not be detected.

Well, the FCC says radar detectors are fine here, but VA and DC say they're not. Who's right? Can states override fed. law? Best practice is to not get caught, wherever you may be.

My understanding it they can issue a ticket , but they eventually have to return your radar detectors... It amazes me what the republic of VA puts up with in terms of the high boots and traffic oppression in that state..

It's not as bad as you think (anymore). From what I've read on the chat boards, VA drivers who run RD's actually want the ban kept in place. Because of the very few people here who run them (I have three RD's and always run one in VA), the cops use antiquated equipment, never use instant on, never use laser and only now, some of the staties are getting Spectres that can detect all but the Bel STi RD. So it's not that bad. My X50 saved me last Sunday in Falls Church. Cop was well hidden, but leaned back in his seat reading the newspaper. That's what the RD ban has done to cops around here and they are easy to defeat. Better yet, the fine for getting caught with a RD is less than the cheapest speeding ticket. My RD's have paid for themselves many times over.

Yep, lets all hurry up and try to defend the guy. lets try to figure out how to blame the cops and say they are the bad guys. Lets pretend it's OK to break the law and try and figure out a way to get away with it by cheating. Obstruction of justice? Never heard of it.
Nice moral responsibility.

This tool was breaking the law by speeding. he was also breaking the law by trying to cheat and not get caught.
Maybe if this asshat (and anyone else like him) drove reasonably, this would be a non-issue. he wouldn't need a radar jammer. He wouldn't get pulled over.

He got exactly what he deserves. No sympathy whatsoever, cudos to the cop.

Rick, the FCC does not have anything to do with state law. Nor do they regulate radio receivers, just transmitters. It's the locals that pass their own laws to ban radar detectors, but that has nothing to do with radio operation or FCC regulations. When you run a radar jammer, you are broadcasting without a license on a licensed band. It's an FCC issue, not a traffic enforcement issue. I'm not even sure police have jurisdiction, but I'm pretty fuzzy on that one. Violation of FCC broadcast regulations certainly cannot go against your driving record, however. The FCC will simply fine you and take it away. They write big fines...

Laser is a whole different kettle of fish. No government agency regulates its use. But, again, any state can pass their own law regarding its use to foil police speed monitoring. Most states have preemption laws keeping every little one horse town from writing their own law on this (just as in CCW laws, among others). So, in most states, you are free to shoot laser right back at the source that is shooting it at you. That is all the jammers do, is send back a conflicting array of laser light that confuses the receiver. You are not broadcasting on a radio band, so the FCC is out of it.

Well, it may be different in S. Africa. But here and especially in VA, speed enforcement has nothing to do with safety and everything to do with revenue. If cops wanted people to slow down, they'd drive with their flashing lights on or stand by the side of the road with orange vests on. Everyone slows down when they see a cop. That they try to hide and catch you with radar means they WANT you to speed so they can write a ticket. Of all the deadly stuff I see on the roads on a daily basis, I may see a cop catch a red light runner once a year (happened last week, actually). Geeze, I even got a huge speeding ticket for going 72mph out in the NV desert. Who was I gonna hurt? I speed and run a radar detector with a very clear conscience. I never run red lights, hog the left lane, use the cell phone behind the wheel, drive drunk, drive with missing tail or brake lights, etc. That stuff is dangerous and should be but isn't enforced.

I don't think that's true. Radar guns work on "open" bands that are set aside for devices like remote controls, RC aircraft, garage door openers, and radar guns. The police would be in violation every time they used a radar gun under the guidelines above.

I'm not that up on FCC regulations, or radio in general. As an old R/C flyer and car racer, I'm sure you are correct in that the band(s) we are using for that are "open". Frequencies within that band are assigned different uses. We played hell with remote operated overhead cranes in a nearby industrial complex when the FCC narrowed up the bands in the late '80's. While I don't think they were individually licensed, it was illegal for them to operate on our frequencies. I remember that the "dirtier" crane transmitters splashed over onto our frequencies. We were able, as a club, to take legal action to force them to clean it up and stay on their frequencies, licensed or not. PCM radios got very popular at my flying site in the middle of all of this.

My neighber is a pretty serious ham operator, and he has tried to explain all of this to me a couple of times. Apparently, certain bands are designated for certain uses; some licensed, some not. We have guys flying airplanes on ham bands, for instance, that have to be licensed on those bands. The rest of us do not have to be licensed to operate on the normally assigned frequencies within our bands, but it is illegal to stray from them. The FCC does assign frequencies within our bands for "surface" use (cars and boats) and aircraft use. I understand it is an FCC violation to operate a car on an aircraft frequency and vis versa.

So while I'm not clear on the vagaries of the whole licensing thing, I am sure it is a violation of FCC regulations to broadcast on the band(s) or frequencies within those bands on which police radar operates. I'm not sure if each individual officer is licensed, or if the department has some kind of "blanket" license, or how it is administered. Maybe some one who actually knows the ins and outs of FCC regulations can chime in and clear this up for us.

As an aside, I understand it is almost child-like in simplicity to make a radar jammer. Any cheap radio transmitter can be turned into one by any competent ham or other radio / electronics buff. That's what I hear, anyway... Just don't get caught is the word; fines are huge. Hams would lose their license.

what the hell does the speed limit have to do with "reasonable" driving?
it is all about revenue generation, from the insurance companies who lobby the crooked legislatures so they can hike rates upon the issuance of tickets, to the cops trying to generate ticket revenue. B%^^ Sh** as to if there's anything related to safety..
I think we should award this guy a medal!!!

Caution, I'm in a bad mood and feel like a rant:

Soooooooo they tell you not to speed, you do it anyway, and it's their fault? Very nice. You don't agree with a law so that makes it wrong and Ok to ignore it, until you get caught and then you blame it on them for emforcing a law that you chose to break.
For your sake I hope you never run out of other people to blame for your own actions.
I speed too, but if and when I get a ticket I pay it and accept full responsibility for my own actions. that's how I was raised.

that's a rant? Common Sammy you can do better than that!!!
I"m just saying the guy should be commended for trying to beat unjust laws.
Yes the laws are wrong..
So why do you speed ?? Are you blaming others? or just a brain fart?? In your mind are you being reckless?
I also resent cops being dressed like nazis with the boots, hats etc ( as long as I'm ranting LOL)

One of the best jammers is to use simple waveguide horn antennas with a quarter wave probe. Feed the spark coil from a model T or anything similar. Draw a constant arc inside the antenna and you have what is called a spark gap transmitter. One of the first type of transmitters. It emits a very broad band spectrum of noise that would degrade any radar significantly. Crude, simple, very effective. Legal-NOT. Connect the on, off to a radar detector and your good to go.

I have some surplus military stuff. a very nice magnetron. Transmits almost 1oo,ooo watts peak power in a band that is right next to the police radar band. It will not only jam the police radar it will cook it. Works of 24 VDC I have always wanted to try it out.

I have an amateur radio license KF6TT. I understand that any receiver is allowed in any car, in any state, if you have the license. I have never had to argue with VA cops to find out it actually works though. As to transmitting, any legal amateur radio frequency's are allowed and the police radar must accept interference from any licensed service. You can probably get close enough to police frequency's and with enough power, block their radar, legally. OF course it must be unintentional.