Legal Radar Detector Use in Europe and Asia
By Derek G. Austin
t is easy to understand why the use of radar detectors are regulated in many countries of the world. Answer the question: Why do motorists use radar detector? The answer includes the cause of the regulation...
A simple explanation is the next: the radar and the radar detector are two poles of the same thing. The signals generated by radar guns reach an object (in the case we are interested in, this is a moving motor vehicle) and an object (the radar detector) perceives this signal and alerts the driver in the car. The newly developed radar detectors are able to make alert on the basis of accepting random signals, that is, before police radar would "discover" the speeding vehicles. That is, the motorist can decelerate speed in due time. Radar guns are owned and worked by police and other authorized patrols, so they have different regulations (illegal to sell, to use in moving vehicles, etc.) and extreme rights (for example, confiscate them) as reactions to the use of radar detectors. For high speeding, motorists are punished with heavy fines, tickets, etc. as the regulation defines it in the country.
After a writing about the legality questions of radar use in the United States and Canada, we make an overview of the situation in some countries in Europe and in Asia (plus we mention an example from Africa).
The legality of detector use in motor vehicles is strictly regulated by national rules, but these rules are sometimes confusing. Between the unregulated free use (legal use) and the total prohibition (illegal to have or use) there are important variations.
A Round-trip In Europe
To review some European countries, check first the rules in France. Regardless of whether they are used or not, detector is illegal, police may confiscate it and impose fines. The situation was changed in the United Kingdom in these days of 2008. It was legal to own, but practically illegal to use under the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949. From 1998, it is legal, but the law will change in November 2008 and its use will be illegal.
Driving further either to Central Europe or to the Northern countries, the radar detector is illegal in many countries. Police may confiscate it in Germany, in Switzerland and in the Netherlands, illegal to use in Greece, illegal to possess, purchase, sell or use in Finland. In Central Europe, its use is legal in Hungary.
In Romania, it is legal since 2006, legal in Bulgaria, illegal in Turkey (radar jammers are illegal in these three countries). Legal to own but illegal to use in a moving vehicle in Poland, legal in Iceland but radar jammers are illegal.
Radar detector use is illegal in Greece: the fine is high (EUR 2,000), additional penalties are 30 day driver's license suspension, 60 days car registration license suspension and 5 SESO penalty points. To use and own is illegal in Turkey, too.
How to Use Radar Detectors in the Middle East and Asia
Motorists are allowed to use their devices in some Near Eastern countries. Detectors are legal in Jordan, in Saudi Arabia, and in the United Arab Emirates.
Detectors are legal in some countries in Asia: motorists can use radar detector legally in India, Japan, and Pakistan, however, banned in Malaysia where illegal to possess, purchase, sell or use, and prohibited item under customs laws.
Finally, I mention Africa where only rules in South Africa are known: while importing devices is permitted, detector is illegal to use in a moving vehicle.
The regulations change time by time so before you start a trip around the world (or visit only a neighbor country in Europe, or travel in the Far East) it is advised to do due diligence and collect up-to-date information.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Derek G. Austin is emarketer and eBay seller. Read his article about legal use of radar detectors in the United States and Canada, subscribe to his Auction Messages and download a bonus ebook about "Choosing Alternative Fuel". Are you interested in Carbon Tuning? Watch Ford tuning video clips.
