This is an often asked question: "In what states in the US are radar detectors legal?" First though radar detectors are currently illegal in the following states:
Virginia (VA)
Washington DC (DC)
Also, radar detectors are illegal to use at the federal level (in all states), in commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs and on military bases, so keep that in mind.
Ok, here is a list by state where radar detectors are currently 100% legal to own and use:
ALABAMA (AL)
ALASKA (AK)
ARIZONA (AZ)
ARKANSAS (AR)
CALIFORNIA (CA)
COLORADO (CO)
CONNECTICUT (CT)
DELAWARE (DE)
FLORIDA (FL)
GEORGIA (GA)
HAWAII (HI)
IDAHO (ID)
ILLINOIS (IL)
INDIANA (IN)
IOWA (IA)
KANSAS ( KS)
KENTUCKY (KY)
LOUISIANA (LA)
MAINE (ME)
MARYLAND (MD)
MASSACHUSETTS (MA)
MICHIGAN (MI)
MINNESOTA (MN)
MISSISSIPPI (MS)
MISSOURI (MO)
MONTANA (MT)
NEBRASKA (NE)
NEVADA (NV)
NEW HAMPSHIRE (NH)
NEW JERSEY (NJ)
NEW MEXICO (NM)
NEW YORK (NY)
NORTH CAROLINA (NC)
NORTH DAKOTA (ND)
OHIO (OH)
OKLAHOMA (OK)
OREGON (OR)
PENNSYLVANIA (PA)
RHODE ISLAND (RI)
SOUTH CAROLINA (SC)
SOUTH DAKOTA (SD)
TENNESSEE (TN)
TEXAS (TX)
UTAH (UT)
VERMONT (VT)
WASHINGTON (WA)
WEST VIRGINIA (WV)
WISCONSIN (WI)
WYOMING (WY)
Are these states that are listed still legal to use personal radar devices? 2010.
Thank You
Yes the list is still accurate, there has not been a single change made as to the legality of using a radar detector.
Also make sure you do not hang anything (therefore neither the radar detector) on the windshield in CA ... so if you can and works keep it somewhere else ...
That is a very good comment. In many places in California they are becoming very picky about anything mounted on the windshield. We carry non-slip dash pads to keep your radar detector stationary, and legal in CA: http://www.buyradardetectors.com/Products/HandStands/Cell-Mate.aspx
I have and use an "Escort X50 in my work van, and it is a commercial vehicle. Is it illegal to use? And why? Thank you in advance.
people here in portland or. keep telling me that radar detectors are illegal to use in oregon and washington.. i guess my question applies to sallys.. Is the list still up to date.. even for 2011
Dear Jeff, can you kindly advise I have Whistler 78 pro. Will it work properly in US?
Radar detectors are illegal in Washington DC
If I fly in to US through Washington can I have problems for keeping it in My Lagguage?
I will use it in Florida
The possesion and use of a radar is illegal in Illinois
http://www.cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/rules_of_the_road/rr_chap12.html
The use of radar JAMMERS is illegal in , but not radar detectors....
Lori-
Before posting, be sure to read your source! It clearly states that radar JAMMERS are illegal, and that radar detectors are illegal in COMMERCIAL vehicles. The law states that people with privately owned vehicles MAY use and posses radar detectors, not radar jammers.
Hi ,
I was wondering if radar detectors are legal in NJ, if they are can you please point me to right statue # so I can read for myself. People say it is legal but nobody is showing me proof from NJ government official website.
Thank you
Sincerely ,
Milos Stevanovic
I was wondering this the other day, since we were going on vacation. Thanks for the post.
there is a federal law against the use of radar detectors over 10,000lbs
Hi Jack, fortunately, most radar detectors don't weigh that much.
You said it is "illegal at the federal level". So if I own and operate a radar detector in your personal vehicle in a state where it's legal, what are the consequences, implications and risks for the federal law? How would that play out?
Hi Grace, to clarify, what the article intends to state is that by federal law, radar detectors are not legal for use in commercial vehicles or on military bases in any state in the US. The federal law mentioned in the article does not apply to personal vehicles.
I have a passport red line detector. They say it's the only one on the market that's undetectable. Is that true?
Tom