Would guess that it is was it is - they do not have a law against having radar detectors on the books, probably because it would be so hard to enforce by the state swooping in and confiscation all detectors which would be time consuming and an act of a "
police state" type event. This would bring on the ACLU as well as the lobbyist in the electronic companies that manufacture, sell, license to sell etc......So the state took the "end round" safer game by just prohibiting them. Chances are when you take the amount of radar detectors from out of state travelers - etc. It would be nearly impossible to enforce the action. More than likely - the state has a newer version of the law hidden within some other bill, or law that has been passed in order to leave it up to the discretion of a police officer who has pulled over someone for speeding to issue a citation for using such a device. You may want to check local electronics stores such as Radio Shack - and see if they sell the devices and what they know exactly about the laws in the state - Good Luck........This is just a guess and am sure you are a smart and intelligent person who has done the homework............
I assume what you are looking at means you can possess a radar detector, but you can't use one.
But without looking at the laws and regulations, I can't give you a more clear answer.
Being prohibited actually IS against the law. You can own a detector, but use of one is what is against the law, which is why they can cite you, and maybe confiscate the detector. The problem I have with this type of law is that it is a "do as I say, not as I do kind of thing. It is OK for the police to use a radar gun to clock your speed, but illegal for you to use a detector to find out they did it. I would challenge this law if I was caught up by it. The FCC says I can use any kind of radio to tune in any kind of signal so long as it is for my own use. I want to know why this radar detector is not like any other radio used to receive any signal in the ether. This makes as much sense as a local law here. In Seattle, it is illegal to put coins into a parking meter other than the one where your car is parked. So, if I am walking down the street, and I see a meter about to raise a flag, it is illegal for me to put a coin into the meter. Recently, a woman was fined $40 for putting a quarter into a meter. She sent the fine to the court in a box, all in pennies. And then they treated it like a bomb when it arrived. And then they said they would not accept it as payment for the fine!. Eventually, it all got sorted out, and she even got her box of pennies back. But still, it is prohibited to put coins into someone else's meter... The thing is, I do it anyway.
The ban in MD must be somewhat new. I lived in VA where they have been banned for a long time. The rule was that the detector can not be in reach of a power source (lighter) so you can have the detector up front but the power cord better be in the trunk.
Basically it means that it is NOT illegal to have them. BUT IT is illegal to use them.
Radar detectors are only illegal in MD in commerical vehicles
Otherwise Radar detectors are only illegal in non commerical vehicles in Virginia and Washington DC
It means that if you have a radar detector in your vehicle you will get a citation for it when you get pulled over.
Where did you get that info from. VA has a law against radar detectors. In Maryland you can buy, sell, and possess radar detectors. You may not have radar jammers though. To answer your question, if a radar detector is prohibited then don't use it. In fact put it in your trunk just to be safe.
If you are caught using one in your car you will be fined or get a ticket. The catch people by switching on the radar and watching for brake lights.
It means you can't use them in the state of Maryland.
Hope that helps.
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