Carrera Mike

What is the fact??? Can they be confiscated by authorities if used?? Or is it just a story we always hear from a friend of a friend?? Or is it just a "corrective ticket" plus $70 fine? Any first hand experience??



Thanks

p_carfan

Go to http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaws/ looks like yes .

Details http://www.afn.org/~afn09444/scanlaw.../radar/va.html

JPL 993-C4S

The guy who sits next to me at work had his confiscated. He's a very reliable source.

Carrera Mike

Thanks Steve. That VA law § 46.2-1079(Radar Detector Law) clearly states that

" This Section shall not be construed to authorize the forfeiture to the Commonwealth of any such device or mechanism. Any such device or mechanism may be taken by the arresting officer if needed as evidence, and, when no longer needed, shall be returned to the person charged with a violation of this Section, or at that person's request, and his expense, mailed to an address specified by him. Any unclaimed devices may be destroyed on court order after six months have elapsed from the final date for filing an appeal. "

p_carfan

Yep Mike.......No shades of gray .

Mark in Baltimore

Mike - If I spend any length of time driving through VA, I keep an obsolete Passport in the vehicle that I can give up so I don't lose my V1.

Carrera Mike

Mark, That's a good way to do it

Bill (NC)

Ha, I'm here to tell you first hand...they do take them. I even asked the officer could he take it if I didn't follow his instructions to give it to him...and he sid he would.

swftiii

From what I have heard, they can take it, but cannot keep it. After paying the fine (if that is what you get), you can go to the police station and get it back.

This topic has been discussed multiple times on the Potomac PCA region web site which you can search just like Rennlist.

-Skip

Jim Michaels

I have been stopped twice for radar detector use in VA (but no speeding tickets). In both cases the officer asked for the detector to record the serial number and immediately returned it.

Bill (NC)

In my case the judge gave it back to me...after the fine.

Livefreeandrive

It just warms my heart that tax payer dollars are spent on something so important as Detector Detectors. I drive every week from Maine to Florida and without exception I will see some cracked out maniac rapidly weaving through traffic( never driving P cars). I know that these people will eventually kill somebody we know and should be removed from the gene pool, but unmarked cars observing and arresting these nuts seems cheaper than employing all this expensive electronic warefare.
Steve

Randy M

This is a sore subject for me. I've heard that some insurance companies 'donate' speed guns to various authorities. Of course their intentions are to keep the roads we all drive on 'safe' The slower you go the safer you are........

swftiii

Don't fool yourself Randy... They donate the guns so their customers can get tickets so they can raise their rates and make more money. It is always about money...

-SKip

George Helser

FLYING INTO VIRGINIA
I periodically fly into IAD, rent a car and drive to Maryland. I found that placing the V1 in some nook or cranny of the console or transmission area works fine. The V1 is out of sight from passing cars and does not have direct sight out the windshield. However, radar enters through the glass bouncing around the cockpit and the V1 is so sensitive it still has a useful range although the direction sensing is useless in this position. I then immediately put the V1 on the windshield as I cross the Potomac River to MD.

GEICO
A company pioneered laser speed guns but was about to go out of business when (about 10 years ago?) GEICO bailed them out by buying a bunch of the laser guns and donating them to police departments! I guess GEICO felt they would profit when drivers got speeding tickets and GEICO could raise their insurance rates.

Regards,
George
In sunny Arizona