Note: I attempted to upload this letter three times to the PNS but each time there was some kind of a form "error" so I am not able to say for sure if this reached the PNS staff. -Todd Article Published - February, 27, 2007 (across multiple Florida newspapers) Your radar detector could be outlawed Bill Cotterell News Journal capital bureau TALLAHASSEE -- With the backing of the Florida Highway Patrol, a former sheriff has introduced legislation outlawing radar detectors by motorists. "Many of the crashes I worked on in my years of law enforcement would not have been as devastating if the driver had not been speeding," said state Sen. Steve Oelrich, R-Cross Creek, a former Alachua County sheriff. "Radar detectors give motorists a false sense of security that they can break the law and get away with it." Having any "speed-measuring device detectors or jammers" would be a non-criminal, secondary offense, which means police could not stop a driver just for that. But once a motorist is stopped for speeding or some other infraction, an officer seeing a radar detector could write a second ticket. Violators would face a fine of up to $185, depending on the local fees in the county. Col. Chris Knight with the Florida Highway Patrol said Oelrich's bill "will go a long way in helping make our roads safer." Oelrich said nine states outlaw use of radar detectors by motorists. His bill will be considered by state lawmakers during the two-month legislative session, which convenes next week. Letter To The Editor According to Stephen Oelrich, in the article in the Pensacola News Journal, _Your radar detector could be outlawed_, by Bill Cotterell, Steve advises that "nine states across the country ban the use of RADAR detectors." This information is not accurate or true. I run the web site called "Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The U.S.", and the only two STATES in the whole of the country which now ban the use of RDs are DC and Virginia. Steve may be getting confused with radar/laser JAMMERS, which are an entirely different device from the radar-DETECTOR, and there ARE laws outlawing them in multiple states. RDs are PASSIVE devices which emit NO signal to interfere with police radar and/or laser devices. JAMMERS are devices designed to ACTIVELY INTERFERE with radar and/or laser signals emitted by the police to detect speed. I support legislation to ban any jammer devices which so maliciously interefere with police frequencies (radio or otherwise) used in the course of protecting citizens and upholding the laws. For this reason, I do not track the laws regarding jammer devices because, in my opinion, they are devices designed to cause deliberate "malicious interference" with lawfully-licensed signals and so would technically be against FEDERAL law, anyway. (Although, interestingly, no one has ever tried using that tac.) There are SOME devices which COMBINE the use of the detector and the jammer, and if a law against jammers were in place, then of course that detector/jammer device would obviously be included in the jammer device ban. I support the ban on JAMMERS, but it would be important for the legislature to get the terminologies correct if they're going to pass legislation. DETECTORS aren't just used to detect radar use ahead. Today, they are also used to detect "SWS" signals denoting various traffic hazards ahead, too. You get this nice little scrolling text message advising you of the particular hazard ahead. So, RDs aren't 100-percent the notorious thing being painted, anymore. They also actually serve a public SAFETY function. :) I would also argue that it's not the DETECTOR which puts the foot down on the gas. DRIVERS are only given a license with their signed promise to drive responsibly. Driving is a PRIVILEDGE, not a RIGHT. RDs don't negate that driver's responsibility to drive safely, nor do they CAUSE their irresponsibility. People always get that confused, though. ...Like they do the "5mph leeway" thing. That's NOT a "right," and you won't find it written as such in any law book; and people should always be careful of that. :) I'll also note that police have been instructed to record the presence of RDs in a vehicle on speeding tickets here in Florida for YEARS (for the Judge to later consider when deciding whether one was in fact speeding or not). Todd Sherman, Author/Webmaster Mobile Scanner & RADAR-Detector Laws In The U.S. http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws Safety Warning System Introduced in 1996, this feature is becoming more common in radar detectors. The Safety Warning System (SWS) consists of a signal transmitted in the lower K band. It's designed to warn drivers of traffic hazards, such as an approaching emergency vehicle, a train approaching a crossing, a raised drawbridge, a construction area, a slower-moving vehicle (such as a school bus), an upcoming rest area, and weather-related hazards. Midrange SWS radar detectors will usually report a general SWS alert, while higher-end units (i.e. those with dot-matrix displays and/or voice alerts) will report the specific alert message. In principle, this is a fantastic idea. However, SWS transmitters are not yet in widespread use, and only time will tell if this system becomes commonplace. Hopefully, more automobile manufacturers will install SWS receivers as standard equipment, which should encourage more extensive use of transmitters. This relatively new radar is not for speed detection at all, it is used to keep you informed of highway safety. Transmitters are installed and programmed (for example: in emergency vehicles) to make you aware of possible situations that may require your attention, such as: ambulance vehicles that are moving or stationary, road hazards ahead, road construction delays or detours, etc. Important: Safety transmitters have to be purchased by the town, state or federal agencies. At present safety radar transmitters are few. Safety radar transmissions are received by all radar detectors because they transmit on K-band frequency, however, only newer radar detectors with safety radar capability can identify them. Safety Warning System (SWS) option In addition to detecting traffic radar signals, Safety Warning System (SWS) detectors (available since 1996, approved by the FCC on 1999 Jan 28, FCC Rules Part 90.103) are capable of receiving specific messages broadcast from special transmitters (fixed or mobile). Besides looking for traffic radar signals, SWS capable receivers also look for safety warning signals (once every 3 to 6 seconds). A special transmitter broadcast a coded signal (a safety message) intended for reception by motorist in the area. An SWS capable detector alerts the driver with an audio tone that a message has been received and displays the message (some detectors use a synthesized voice). Sixty-four short fixed text messages are possible, up to 2 different messages may be broadcast one after the other. Variable messages are allowed if none of the available fixed text messages is appropriate. Radar detectors that do not have the SWS feature will detect a SWS signal message as a K band radar. Transmitters broadcast at 24.1 GHz in the (lower part of) traffic radar K band. Transmitters function in both mobile (emergency vehicles such as police fire or ambulance, slow and/or oversized vehicles, school buses) and stationary modes (construction areas, dangerous stretches of road, or area information). For some stationary transmitters the broadcast message can be programmed from a remote location via radio or phone link. SWS Transmitters Frequency 24.100 GHz ± 50 MHz Power (ERP) 50 milliwatts (mW) Beamwidth 23 degrees (horizontal) Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) developed the system specifications as part of the Smart-Highway plan. Safety Warning System, L.C. (941-473-1555) is an organization formed to develop and promote the system, and has donated transmitters to local and state governments and at least 3 countries (Russia, New Zealand, and the Netherlands) as of 1998. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Safety Alert option Cobra Electronics Corp. Safety Alert System, introduced in the 1990's, transmits 1 of 3 fixed messages (Emergency Vehicle -- Train -- Road Hazard) intended for reception by special receivers or radar detectors (designed to receive the Safety Alert signal). Radar detectors that do not have the Safety Alert feature will detect the signal message as a K band radar. The Safety Alert System transmits at 24.07 GHz, 24.11 GHz, and 24.19 GHz.