I’ve heard that some places they are and some places they are not. What is the Straight Dope on them before I go out and buy one?
At one point, Radar detectors were illegal in VA, CT, and DC. I think CT has removed the ban, and I’m not sure about VA. I don’t know if this applies to Lidar.
They are illegal in big rigs in all states, I think. That is covered under Interstate Commerce.
A few years ago, I heard on the radio that some guy was taking a class-action lawsuit up to the supreme court about the legality of radar detectors.
His arguement:
We as citizens may recieve any transmission from a government agency( Or some unit under the direction/supervision of a government agency). This is apparently a rule the FCC made into law regarding radio and television broadcasts, but the arguement is…police radar is a transmission from a governmental agency and therefore may be recieved via a radar detector.
When I bought my first one in 1988, they were illegal in VA, CT, DC and on military bases. I lived on a military base, in VA, went to DC all the time, and was dating a girl in CT. Sheesh!
But nowadays, according to this link, only VA, DC, and military bases still have the prohibition outright. Other states don’t allow you to hang things from the windshield, restrict the vehicle weight, or whatever.
FYI
There is a device by something like colorado mountain radar, that is suppose to ‘jam’ radar but it doesn’t seem to live up to the hype (it doesn’t work in tests by independent labs).