The legality of laser detectors in Virginia and DC?

[justin81]

The recent thread about a laser only detector got me thinking. Would a unit only capable of receiving laser signals be legal to operate in Virginia and DC?

I would imagine the statute was written before LIDAR was invented or in common use. If the language used in the statute is specific enough to ban "radar" detecting devices, I could see a loophole that someone could potentially argue if caught with a laser only unit.

Any thoughts?

EDIT: Just wanted to add that I know laser only detectors are pretty scarce these days and that any new detector is going to be a combo unit. So, I suppose this scenario is more of a hypothetical situation.

[Super Dave]

Interesting...

[Super Dave]

Actually from this wording from the actual law looks like you can't do it:

46.2-1079. Radar detectors
"A. It shall be unlawful for any person to operate a motor vehicle on the highways of the Commonwealth when such vehicle is equipped with any device or mechanism, passive or active, to detect or purposefully interfere with or diminish the measurement capabilities of any radar, laser, or other device or mechanism employed by law-enforcement personnel to measure the speed of motor vehicles on the highways of the Commonwealth for law-enforcement purposes. It shall be unlawful to use any such device or mechanism on any such motor vehicle on the highways. It shall be unlawful to sell any such device or mechanism in the Commonwealth. However, provisions of this section shall not apply to any receiver of radio waves utilized for lawful purposes to receive any signal from a frequency lawfully licensed by any state or federal agency."

However I would say if it's in your grille and won't be picked up by a Spectre or whatever they use they would never know...just my guess though...

[RW'07]

If laser detection is legal in YOUR area (so just the radar one is illegal), instead of buying a laser-only detector (no such thing right now) just turn off all X, K and Ka bands, POP as well, and just run the laser feature (even in plain view of any cop, VA and DC if you're in the States) and if they pull you over just let them see (on the spot) that the radar bands were all disabled, plain and simple :wink:

[lammy08]

...

[Asleeper]

A laser only detector would still be illegal in VA.

Here's a slightly off-topic example:

Lets say you live in MD(where RD's/jammers are legal) and have a remote detector with the heads in the grill, like the ZR3. Even though you can't feasibly remove it when you enter VA, you can still be ticketed for having an RD. Even if its turned off, you can still be ticketed for it.

[Esoterica]

I don't know anything about the legality of it, but I certainly don't see how they could ever detect a laser only detector other than by visual observation. Passing by a parked patrol car using laser at speed is going to make any visual observations pretty much impossible.

However you also have to consider the limited effectiveness of laser detection, is it even worth bothering with without the use of a jammer, which then is possible to detect, even if he's only detecting by seeing the IR light from the view screen on a digital camera device. No need for fancy equipment to see if a jammer is going off.

[RW'07]

A laser only detector would still be illegal in VA.

Here's a slightly off-topic example:

Lets say you live in MD(where RD's/jammers are legal) and have a remote detector with the heads in the grill, like the ZR3. Even though you can't feasibly remove it when you enter VA, you can still be ticketed for having an RD. Even if its turned off, you can still be ticketed for it.

I never have a problem running my STI from the NC state line all the way up to MD anytime coming back from sunny Florida, yes, I got it hardwired by the visor and got limo tint behind the front seats, dark tint for the front seats... that's what I call a pretty smart RD install :wink: