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Laser jammer?

TheRobSJ

TheRobSJ

May lose 10mm sockets if distracted
Joined
Oct 23, 2002
Location
Santa Clara
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No bike until I have a bigger garage.
Name
Rob
Probably my first post in this forum ever. Anyways, I’m working on this car and I find a bunch of aftermarket electronics in it. After finding all it of, it’s a really fancy radar/laser detector setup. But there’s more. It has laser “shifter” arrays as well. A quick check says these are illegal here in CA. I assume it’s a fix it ticket if you’re caught with it. But another line of the law says if your caught with four or more devices then it’s a misdemeanor.

So my question is, what constitutes one device? Is it the whole system, or is each component of the system a device? If there’s enough arrays and such, can this guy be arrested on the spot for having this thing?
 
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From what I just reads (out of curiosity) is that they are legal to own, but not use (in some states).
Unlike Radar jammers which are illegal to own and use.
(now isn't that a fine line)

Apparently radar is controlled by FCC and Laser is controlled by the FDA.

Curious to hear what LEO have to say tho.
 
My understanding is that radar jammers are illegal but laser jammers may or may not be illegal depending upon the state. I'm interested to see what the leo's say.

It should be noted that while a good laser jammer can work part of the time at longer distances, radar jammers are completely useless. Radar jammers have been tested many, many times and found to do nothing to prevent getting locked onto and having your speed read. One of the top radar detector sites even did a test with a huge radar jammer, one that was as big as a home theatre amplifier (it had to be strapped to the passenger seat), and though it was many times more powerful than the typical jammer sold, it was useless as well.
 
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California Vehicle Code 28150 said:
(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.
Click to expand...

this

essentially to answer your question "4 or more" is really for the sale and control of these items (buying selling distributing building etc)... having your car outfitted with some stupid laser shifting array, even 4 devices all working together, is going to net the same fix it ticket
 
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Does cvc really have the jurisdiction to regulate buying, selling, and mfg, etc. of such devices?
 
I'm not saying state laws should not prohibit that, it just seemed odd that cvc would address general manufacture or possession of something, so one is in violation of vehicle code when not engaging in motor vehicle operation in any way. It's like cvc regulating general possession of alcohol or weed or firearms in your home.
 
You can own a laser jammer but depending upon the state, you cannot use it.

Radar jammers, even though they don't work at all, are prohibited on a federal level.
 
ST Guy, how do you come to that conclusion after reading section b of the statute posted above?
 
I said depending upon the state. Also, as I recall, once upon a time, it wasn't illegal in California. Apparently things have changed.

Keep in mind I'm an old fart. :afm199
 
ctwo said:
I'm not saying state laws should not prohibit that, it just seemed odd that cvc would address general manufacture or possession of something, so one is in violation of vehicle code when not engaging in motor vehicle operation in any way. It's like cvc regulating general possession of alcohol or weed or firearms in your home.
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It has to do with vehicles, throw it in the vehicle code...

/lawmakers
 
ctwo said:
I'm not saying state laws should not prohibit that, it just seemed odd that cvc would address general manufacture or possession of something, so one is in violation of vehicle code when not engaging in motor vehicle operation in any way. It's like cvc regulating general possession of alcohol or weed or firearms in your home.
Click to expand...

It may also be prohibited in another collection of codes such as Business and Professions Code or Health and Safety Code. Then there are also federal laws to consider.
 
orbframe said:
this

essentially to answer your question "4 or more" is really for the sale and control of these items (buying selling distributing building etc)... having your car outfitted with some stupid laser shifting array, even 4 devices all working together, is going to net the same fix it ticket
Click to expand...

So I found four laser shifter arrays on the car. Plus radar/laser detectors and a very elaborate control box.

With installation labor, I’d guess that this system (Escort ShifterMax) probably cost the owner well over $4k to put on. That’s a helluva thing to have to remove if you get caught with it.
 
^ Standard to have multiple laser jammers for 1 install. Usually it's 3, 2 in the front, 1 in the rear (near the license plate).

I haven't heard of anyone in a car being caught with a laser jammer, because it's not visible as it's installed behind the front grill and bumpers (not visible).

Curious, what type of car has this installed?
 
Sounds like a waste of money since all that's needed for a speeding conviction is a trained officer's visual estimation anyway.

ctwo said:
I'm not saying state laws should not prohibit that, it just seemed odd that cvc would address general manufacture or possession of something, so one is in violation of vehicle code when not engaging in motor vehicle operation in any way. It's like cvc regulating general possession of alcohol or weed or firearms in your home.
Click to expand...

There's a few of those. Pretty sure window tint, lighting equipment, and exhausts all have sections like that.
 
TheRiddler said:
Sounds like a waste of money since all that's needed for a speeding conviction is a trained officer's visual estimation anyway.



There's a few of those. Pretty sure window tint, lighting equipment, and exhausts all have sections like that.
Click to expand...

I just thought it was odd to state it as an outright ban. Such as, CVC would ban you from having window tint on your bathroom shower door, if window tint was illegal to have at all on your street-bound car...
 
These things never made sense to me. LEO is on the side of the road shooting radar/laser. Everything is normal til he aims at your car(equipped with whatever jammer/scrambler ect) and his shit goes screwy. Guess what? You're getting pulled over anyway lol. I don't know if that's how it would really work but that was my thinking when it came to these things.
 
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