Are Radar Detectors Permitted in Florida? Find Out the Law!

Radar Detectors Demystified

Radar detectors belong to the group of devices known as "passive" devices. They are not actually capable of measuring the speed of vehicles. The way they work is that they are able to detect the radar signal from the radar guns used by police. These signals are always transmitted at a fixed frequency which is well-known to police officers. If the radar signal strikes a vehicle, the radar signal is reflected and goes back to the radar control unit being employed by police officers. Thus, it is the radar control unit for which was installed by the police officer that makes the actual measurements used in order to determine speed.
When the radar signal strikes a vehicle, if a radar detector is in use on the vehicle , the radar signal will strike the detector and cause a beep. This beep will alert the driver to the fact that he or she is either in a radar trap or it is possible that he or she is in a radar trap. The radar detector will not be of much assistance to the driver who is traveling too fast to be able to maintain control of the vehicle. However, it might help the driver who is speeding but only slightly and by knowing that he or she is in radar trap, reduce his or her speed accordingly.
It should also be recognized that radar units being used by police officers have a limited range and reflectivity unit. If the radar unit is several hundred feet away and the driver is traveling at 45 miles per hours, by the time that the radar trap is alerted so that the driver is aware of it, then it is possible that the driver is too far away to be able to stop the car immediately.

Radar Detector Laws in Florida

Florida is one of the few states in the US that permit the use of radar detectors in private cars, while are illegal in all others. Radar speed guns were introduced as a speed detection device in Florida in 1964. There have been some restrictions for commercial vehicles in Florida since then. In 1983, the law was amended to bar all commercial vehicles weighing more than 10,000 pounds (including RVs) from using radar detectors on Florida roads.
There are a few exceptions though. For commercial vehicles, we noted above that radar detectors are illegal for those weighing more than 10,000 pounds. You are able to use a radar detector while you are actively driving a commercial vehicle if it is moving to or from the repair facility for servicing or inspection purposes or if it has broken down and has been pulled off of the road. Basically, a radar detector may not be used at any other time while operating a commercial motor vehicle.
The only exception to the ban on radar detectors for commercial motor vehicles in Florida is if the FMCSA regulations permit their use while driving interstate commercial vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) regulations allow interstate drivers to have radar detectors in their vehicle, but not laser jammers, with the caveat they do not operate them while on roads that are part of the interstate system. The interstate system includes all roads that are part of the federal interstate system, including those owned by the state.
Florida does not the outlaw the use of laser jammers in commercial vehicles, so there is no law prohibiting interstate drivers from using these devices on Florida roads.

How Florida Compares to Other States

While the radar detector laws in Florida are fairly straightforward, the same cannot be said for other states. Radar detector laws vary widely from state to state, while a few states have outlawed their outright use completely. Unfortunately, many drivers end up racking up speeding tickets from routinely driving in states that prohibit using a radar detector, leaving them confused at what is and isn’t legal.
Georgia is the closest neighbor to Florida that prohibits radar detectors. That means that Florida drivers traveling north face breaking the law when they drive through Georgia. Radar detectors are only illegal in personal cars though, so Georgia drivers are still free to use them in trucks or buses.
A couple other states ban using radar detectors in personal cars. These states are Virginia and Washington D.C. It’s worth noting that Virginia does not allow drivers to have a radar detector in their cars unless they’re permanently affixed. This essentially renders navigator units like Waze and Google Maps entirely useless when it comes to avoiding speed traps, as neither of these apps on their own can detect radar. However, adding radar detection capability to these apps through add-ons or API integrations is extremely simple as a result.
Further north, in the state of Maryland, the laws are murkier. The state prohibits any type of equipment that is capable of detecting radar but does not include a specific ban on radar detectors. In fact, Maryland’s law prevents "a device the primary purpose of which is to provide a driver assistance in avoiding radar-based speed traps." So long as your radar detector shows you other valuable information that assists your driving outside of identifying police speed traps, you shouldn’t have a problem using it.
In the west, the state of California actually goes further than having only a ban on radar detectors. The state has a flat out ban on radar jammers as well. In fact, no driver in the state may operate a car with any type of radar detection or jamming equipment, making California one of the strictest states.
On a national level, radar detectors are mostly legal to use while driving through the U.S. For this reason, many drivers who travel for work will often have them activated during their drives. What’s more, many mobile apps that don’t incorporate radar detection still incorporate data from other drivers on the road, which allows drivers to avoid speed traps without the risk of violating any laws.
While there are still far more states—34 in total—that allow radar detectors than the amount that ban them—and one district, Washington D.C. that also prohibits the use of radar detectors in personal automobiles—there’s still a fair amount of confusion around how these devices are really used. This confusion can stem from the fact that the laws vary in subtle ways, while laws that have little nuance can ban their use entirely. Ideally, the more a state can elaborate on the intention of the law, the better. VerdantLaw’s resources offer the full picture of the law and how it relates to where you are driving.

Penalties and Fines for Radar Detectors

If you’re caught using a radar detector or an active radar jamming device in Florida, then you’ll be looking at significant fines. The fine for just having the radar detector in your car is $150. The fine for using a radar detector in your car is $250. The same fines apply to active radar jamming devices. Not only is it against the law to use one, but it’s also illegal to even have one in your possession while behind the wheel. As you should expect, getting caught with a radar detector or an active radar jamming device is NOT worth the risk of trying to beat the speed limit. Not only does Florida have laws against radar detectors , but as we’ve explained, speed limits are strictly enforced. You probably won’t be driving much faster than what the officer will be going. If you managed to go faster than you expected, then your speed will likely be brought down almost instantly as the officer pulls you over. Even with a radar detector, if you were speeding and cut off traffic, then you’ll be stopped. Yes, police officers do pull over drivers that don’t look like they’re speeding. Often, they will come right up behind you after they notice you moving in the lane ahead of them. It’s safer for them to pull you over than to wait until you pull into a parking lot.

Myths Surrounding Radar Detectors

There is a lot of misinformation out there surrounding the topic of radar detectors. This section will go over some of the most common misconceptions and myths surrounding radar detectors and see whether there is any truth to them.
Myth: Using a radar detector ensures drivers won’t get tickets.
Truth: It all depends on how well a particular driver can utilize their radar detector. Just because a radar detector warns a driver of an officer’s presence doesn’t mean it will allow a driver to slow down and avoid a ticket every time. While a radar detector can help you avoid fines, it doesn’t offer a fail-proof guarantee that you won’t be pulled over by law enforcement for speeding.
Myth: Using a radar detector is illegal.
Truth: While there are many states that restrict the use of certain types of radar detectors (most notably police vehicles), the general consensus is that using radar detectors isn’t illegal. While certain locations may restrict their use by state and local ordinances, and even make using them illegal, most places won’t penalize you for using a radar detector in your car.
Myth: The more expensive the radar detector, the more accurate it is.
Truth: Not necessarily. If you want to ensure the most accurate and powerful radar detector, you have to spend a bit of money—but it doesn’t have to set you back thousands of dollars just to ensure safe, accurate use. Most radar detectors (even the lower-priced ones) are still highly effective.
Myth: Only men drive with radar detectors?
Truth: While they’re closely associated with middle-aged males, Maes Hull, director of communications for Geotab, says his research shows that 44% of women are also driving with radar detectors in the United States.

Essential Road Laws to Remember in Florida

This article is not legal advice and if you are curious about how to approach a situation that you are personally in after reading this, please consult with a lawyer. If you have found yourself in another state and tempted to use your radar detector, be aware of the laws in your area. To avoid any run-ins with the law , motorists should always keep up-to-date with Florida’s traffic laws as well as monitor for any changes that could occur. Here are some tips that can help keep you safe on Florida roads: As radar detectors are illegal in some areas, motorists should stay updated regarding their states traffic and enforcement laws and learn how the laws apply to them.