Radar Jammers

Fortunately, the majority of us firmly believe in that oft-repeated line "it's better to be safe, than sorry" and yes, most of us live our lives by this motto. Unfortunately, there are a significant number of people who own powerful automobiles, who don't. It is this sometimes irresponsible segment of drivers who normally opt for radar jammers. Jammers use laser radar detector technology and then it scrambles radar signals.

While most people prefer the "drive safely, arrive safely" train of thought, there will always be a select few who view cars as toys. These are the people who typically own faster, sleeker and sometimes louder cars, and often forget that the freeway is not a race track. For most of us, obeying the speed limit is a choice we make. For these other few, however, radar jammers have become their new method of choice in avoiding a speeding ticket. The jammers scramble detector radar signals and allow them to most often escape from being caught speeding.

For most people, driving the speed limit is just common sense. The safer you drive, the less likely you are to be in an accident. Unfortunately, not everyone feels that way. There are, and will always be, a select group of people who forget that highways are not international speedways. For these people, avoiding a speeding ticket can be tricky. With the use of radar jammers, however, it is becoming increasingly common for them to avoid being caught. A radar detector jammer scrambles the signals emitted from detector radar devices, allowing the speeder to get away.

When driving, most people tend to follow simple rules such as speed limits, stop signs and traffic lights. There are, however, others who feel as though every road is nothing less than another quarter-mile stretch for racing. These are the people you see driving down the highway as if their life depends on them arriving at their destination in the next ten seconds or so. While they may be illegal in most places, many of these people use radar jammers to avoid getting a speeding ticket.

Radar jammers, as the name signifies, are compact devices used primarily to scramble detector radar signals, particularly those emanating from speed guns used by policemen. Now that you know, you'll probably ask, "Are they legal?" While purchase of a radar detector jammer is permissible by law, the now amended Communications Act of 1934 clearly stipulates that intentional use of a radar detector jammer will be construed as malicious interference. Contravention of these laws can invite heavy fines and/or imprisonment. Before investing in a radar jamming unit, it would be advisable to first check state laws governing their ownership and use, as well as the models and types permitted. There are basically two types of car radar jamming devices available; active and passive. Several models are available with approximately 90% of the models falling within the latter category. Active jammers constitute a mere 10%; however, it is important to note that this type is considered illegal by the US federal government since December 1997.

Contrary to what advertisements claim, passive radar jamming devices are quite ineffective against the digital speed guns used by traffic policemen in the US today. One major reason for their ineffectiveness is that signals from passive devices can be intercepted by policemen from a distance exceeding 1,000 feet. While these signals can scramble the policeman's detection unit, one would need to be within 100 feet away for it to work. On the other hand, active devices are much more effective from a greater distance. Moreover, such radar jammers transmit their own signal to a speed gun, blocking the radar. How much does a radar jamming device cost? There are several models on the market, which can even be purchased online. Prices reach upwards of $1,500 or more for an 'active' radar jammer versus the cheaper, less effective 'passive' models.

Although marketing for radar jammers places a heavy emphasis on their ability to block speed tracking radar, passive radar detector jammer devices are ineffective when at a distance of over 100 ft. Since traffic policemen are able to intercept the signal emitted from radar detector jammer devices from over 1,000 feet away, these devices are, essentially, useless. While active radar jamming devices work from a much greater distance, and send their own signal to a speed gun, the high cost and illegal status of such devices makes them a poor choice for most. While there are several different brands and models available, paying upwards of $1,500 for a device that could cost you fines and jail time just doesn't make much sense.

Since radar jammers are purchased for the purpose of avoiding a speeding ticket, it would only make sense that marketing and advertisements would try to emphasize their effectiveness. What they fail to mention, however, is that passive radar jamming units are only effective within about 100 feet from the speed gun. Since most people are much farther away when their speeds are recorded, these models are just shy of useless. Illegal active devices are much more effective in preventing your speed from being detected; however, the result can easily be jail time and/or hefty fines, when the unit is discovered. Both active and passive radar detector jammer units can be purchased in today's market, especially online. Active jammers come with hefty price tags, sometimes exceeding $1,500.

So aren't there any countermeasures? Indeed, there are. Today, police are equipped with highly advanced digital speed guns that are extremely accurate and rather difficult to jam. In addition, the latest versions are also fitted with built-in cameras which enable police to record a picture of the violator's car and face. Finally, do pause for a moment and ask yourself. Are radar jammers really worth it? Your conscience will almost surely answer that.

So how are police fighting back against this technology? Many policemen and state patrol are now able to detect when radar jammers are being used, and are able to pull a driver over for this. Additionally, the speed guns used nowadays are extremely advanced and much more difficult to jam. For most, testing their unit's effectiveness by speeding past a state patrolman probably doesn't seem like the wisest option.

While you may think the answer is as simple as buying active radar jammers online, then hiding it in your car, consider the following. The speed guns used by state patrol use extremely advanced signals which are very difficult to jam. Add to that the built-in cameras used to record the vehicle as well as who is driving, and you can forget the "it wasn't me" defense. Would you really want to test the effectiveness of your radar detector jammer by speeding past a highway patrol unit?

• Radar Laser Detector