Commuter in Cali: Are laser jammers kosher here?

[poplogic]

Howdy all,

Forgive the noobish question, but can anyone let me know if adding a laser jammer to my setup is okay to do here in California? I just got an X50 (blue, natch) and I'd like to supplement it with a ZR-3. Any info on this would be appreciated. Thanks!

[jimbonzzz]

Laser jammers are illegal in California I believe.

[Mackid343]

i would suggest getting some veil, lasershield and a black vehicle bra for your car. it will cut down the effective range of lidar and will hopefully give you a little time to slow down. mount your x50 as low as you can on your windshield (not in a tint strip or black strip or not behind the wipers). this will hopefully allow for your detector to pick up the lidar in the event of a closer hit. what kind of car do you drive?

[stalker]

I have my detector hight on the window ans behind the tint strip and never have a problem detecting laser ;)

[poplogic]

The "car" I drive is a '05 Chevy Astro workvan. Right now I've got my X50 mounted centered and low on the windshield (in fact, the front edge of the X50 actually touches the dashboard). Since I can't Pimp My Ride with a ZR3, all those other countermeasures that Mackid343 mentioned are gonna make their way onto my van very quickly.

No ZR3 -- that sucks!!!! :x

[stalker]

hey man, just get a jammer, they will never know.....just shut it off after a few secs or so...

[TexasRed]

Stalker is right. As long as you don't jam him all the way to the gun and allow him to get a reading not long after you get lit up, you should be okay. Just turn the thing off when you're down to something less than warp speed.

[Mackid343]

considering what your driving, veil and a lasershield wouldnt cut more than 15% of the effective range off without a jammer. it is really designed for smaller sports cars and other cars with aerodynamic front ends. i'd say if you'd be willing to take the chance, get a jammer along wiht veil and lasershield and flip the jammer off like stalker suggested. the veil and lasershield will cut down on the punchthrough range on the jammer in the event of a close laser shot. if it were me, i wouldnt, but thats just becuase i'm still in high school and cant afford to get in trouble like that. if i do, i wont be driving anymore thanks to my parents! good thing jammers are legal where i live...

now that i think about it, i think you'd probably save alot more money by installing a jammer and taking the chance than you would when you get laser tickets. anyone know what the penalty for a jammer is in CA?

[poplogic]

Well, then, heck...

I think I'll bite the bullet and place my order for a ZR3 in the next couple of weeks. There's a nice Escort accomodation at my job that lets me pick one up for a very nice price.

Funny how I'm able to purchase an item that, when used as directed, can result in fines and/or jail time. :? Good thing the ZR3 has that Receive Only mode built in to it!

[stalker]

Gp the defender 2 ;)

[poplogic]

Ahem. :cry:

Here's the official lowdown (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d12/vc28150.htm) on radar and laser jammers in California, courtesy of the California DMV website:

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Jamming: Electronic Speed-Measuring Devices

28150. (a) No vehicle shall be equipped with any device that is designed for, or is capable of, jamming, scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.

(b) No person shall use, buy, possess, manufacture, sell, or otherwise distribute any device that is designed for jamming, scrambling, neutralizing, disabling, or otherwise interfering with radar, laser, or any other electronic device used by a law enforcement agency to measure the speed of moving objects.

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) is an infraction.

(d) When a person possesses four or more devices in violation of subdivision (b), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a person who has a valid federal license for operating the devices described in this section may transport one or more of those devices if the license is carried in the vehicle transporting the device at all times when the device is being transported.

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Okay, so what what exactly is an "infraction" that's mentioned in subdivision (c)? Well, it's too long to copy and paste, but if you go here (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d18/vc42001.htm) you'll see that the first offense can be as high as a hundred bucks. Ouch.

Which leads me to this question: If a CHP lasers my ZR3-equipped van and gets a jam code, would that be enough probable cause for him to pull me over and infract me, even if I turn off my jammer after I come out of warp speed?

[trazadone]

(c) Except as provided in subdivision (d), a violation of subdivision (a) or (b) is an infraction.

(d) When a person possesses four or more devices in violation of subdivision (b), the person is guilty of a misdemeanor...

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Okay, so what what exactly is an "infraction" that's mentioned in subdivision (c)? Well, it's too long to copy and paste, but if you go here (http://www.dmv.ca.gov/pubs/vctop/d18/vc42001.htm) you'll see that the first offense can be as high as a hundred bucks. Ouch.

Which leads me to this question: If a CHP lasers my ZR3-equipped van and gets a jam code, would that be enough probable cause for him to pull me over and infract me, even if I turn off my jammer after I come out of warp speed?

Okay, so at worst you get a $100 fine. How much is a speeding ticket in California? How many points is that speeding ticket? How much does your insurance go up from those points? I'll bet any of these questions result in a cost greater than $100.

From reading the two DMV pages, I can't see anywhere that you're assessed points for the jammer infraction. On the rare chance you get cited for the jammer, consider it a cheap payoff to avoid a more costly ticket.

[poplogic]

Very well put. Don't get me wrong -- I'm still gonna install my ZR3 when it comes in next week. I'll just have to be extra-aware to laser alerts, that's all.

[ES13Raven]

Okay, so at worst you get a $100 fine. How much is a speeding ticket in California? How many points is that speeding ticket? How much does your insurance go up from those points? I'll bet any of these questions result in a cost greater than $100
Agreed :wink:

Thanks Poplogic for finding out that info 8)