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Are Radar Detectors and Laser Jammers Legal in Virginia?

A popular and valid question,  no radar detectors and laser jammers are not legal to use in Virginia,  then again speeding is not legal in Virginia either.  The fine for using a radar detector (in a non commercial vehicle) in Virginia is currently $55 plus court costs.  Much like a parking ticket or defective equipment ticket,  it is not a  moving violation therefore no points against your license.  This fine is the least of your worries,  if you got a ticket for using a radar detector instead of a six point reckless driving violation,  that's a great day.  Safe & Sound Mobile Electronics does not promote or condone reckless driving,  a radar detector is not a license to speed or drive recklessly and are illegal to use in the state of Virginia.

 

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How does Radar work?

Police radar guns use a microwave signal to detect speed.  Some leave their radar guns on all the time, some target vehicles one at a time as they come.  Your only chance at beating radar is catch the signal before it hits you,  hopefully while a car prior to you is being measured.

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Laser detection and Jamming

Laser (or LIDAR) is much more precise than radar and the most popular speed detection method among Virginia state troopers.  A police laser gun is aimed at the forward most, vertical surface of your vehicle,  like the license plate,  and the reading is instant.  A laser detector by itself is almost worthless,  it simply tells you you're already caught.  This is where the laser jammer enters the picture,  with two or three mounted on the front (depending on vehicle size) and at least one on the rear,  emitting their own laser jamming police laser so a speed measurement can't be obtained.

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System Options

Portable detectors do not offer laser jamming so they're only mildly useful for radar only, so an installed system with laser diffusers is always the best choice. The RL360i is the obvious choice for super cars or daily drivers.  Although completely customizable ala-cart,  the typical s system consists of separate front and rear radar sensors plus two to five front laser sensors/emitters (depending on vehicle size) and one rear laser sensor/emitter.  The completely hidden system has two blue LED's to indicate front or rear detection.  The wireless RF remote controls everything and remote speaker verbally tells you what band and direction.

 

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Radar detector reviews online

Most radar detector review sites online are simply retailers directing you to the products they sell.  This should be clearly visible if their positively reviewed systems are available for sale on the site and the negatively reviewed systems are not.  Most we have visited compare new models they sell,  to ten year old models they don't.  Whatever you decide,  our best advice is to always have the system installed at the same place it's purchased. This way if there's a problem, whether installation or product related, there's only one responsible party.

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