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Are GPS detectors legal?
YES, GPS Speed camera detectors are completely legal to us in the uk. The police in general see them as a speeding deterant as they do not pre-warn you if there is a film in the camera by using radar technologies, they only notify you that the camera is coming up by using GPS (global positioning system).
Are radar detectors legal?
The answer is YES! Radar detectors are completely legal
to use in the UK and evidence taken from a MORI poll between radar
detector users and non-radar detector users concluded that people
who own them are less likely to have an accident.
Radar Detectors have been designed to help you drive in the confines
of today's ever changing speed limits. They are not a licence to
speed. Always remember that speed limits have been set for the safety
of all road users.
However, drivers should be made aware of the speed limit before
they commit an offence. Speed traps are often set up where the speed
limit is decreased, i.e. from 60 - 40mph or from a 50 - 30mph zone.
Driving in today's congested traffic conditions, concentrating on
the traffic around you means that it is easy to drive into a restricted
zone without noticing the change in speed limits. Therefore advanced
warning through radar detection could prevent you from driving dangerously
(which is in everybody's interests). The Spanish have radar controlled
traffic lights, if they sense you travelling above the speed limit
the lights are changed against your favour, this is the best kind
of instant incentive to drive within the speed limit, but then it
doesn't raise much cash does it!
Radar detectors are legal in England but the
law differs around the world.
The sale, purchase and installation of Snooper or Radarscout products
is perfectly legal. The use of one until recently may have contravened
the 1949 Wireless and Telegraphy Act but a judgement of the Queens
Bench Divisional Court dated 29th January 1998 makes it clear that
the use of Radar Detectors is not unlawful as has hitherto been
claimed by some. In the past a few prosecutions have been brought
by claiming the use of radar detectors was contrary to section 5(b)(i)
of the Wireless Telegraphy Act 1949 as amended by section 3 of the
Post Office Act 1969. However the Acts refer to the interception
of wireless communications for the purpose of obtaining information
as to the content, sender or addressee of any message. The Court
concluded that the radar transmission was not communicating a 'message'
and therefore equipment designed to detect the presence of the transmission
could not decode any such message.
It was further stated that section 1(1) of the Act, which requires
a licence for the reception of radio signals, has been superseded
by the Wireless Telegraphy Apparatus (Receivers)(Exemption) Regulations
(SI 1989 No123) which exempts radar detectors and similar equipment
from the need for such licences.
This case is reported in The Times on Feb 18, 1998, page 41 under
the heading "Radar speed guns do not send message". Unfortunately
The Times now charges for access to its archives and we can no longer
link to the full story but you can purchase the extract yourself
here, it's about the 63rd article down the page. http://www.newsint-archive.co.uk/
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