Are Fuzz Busters legal in Oz?

[ImpulseTaco]

I was reading the thread about the change in speeding laws, and was wondering if fuzz busters (one of our many names for a radar detector) were legal down there. We have some great ones here, like the Valentine 1 and Escort that are pretty good at picking up police radar from enough distance to allow you to slow to the speed limit.

[4.9 EF Futura]

I believe it varies from state to state/territory. Dont quote me on this but i think they are allowed in Western Australia and the Northen Territory.

That leaves South Aust, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory as states/territories where they are illegal (big fines down here in SA.... big, big fines)

[ImpulseTaco]

I'm assuming the police have Radar Detector Detctors also? Or do they just have a look in your car for one?

[Hardtopxb]

Originally Posted by ImpulseTaco

I'm assuming the police have Radar Detector Detctors also? Or do they just have a look in your car for one?

The Detectors they have pick up emissions from radar detectors in cars.Then they just pull you over and fine you etc..

[4.9 EF Futura]

Yeah, as per hardtopxb's comments. Urban legend also talks about detector detector detectors etc lol.

How about the US? Is everything fair game over there with fuzz busters?

[LTDHO]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Yeah, as per hardtopxb's comments. Urban legend also talks about detector detector detectors etc lol.

How about the US? Is everything fair game over there with fuzz busters?

Not everywhere in US.

Watch a movie called 'Gumball 3000' they drive from West to East across the US, in one part a driver gets done for using one.

[goldfire]

Here in W.A. It's Legal to own and sell Radar Detectors, but Illegal to use them.

Cops don't have Radar Detectors Detectors, as the Detectors are a passive sensor, picking up the radio waves on each specific band, your not transmitting to there's nothing to detect, unless you want to try to jam the camera's.. which could be fun.

Generally you get pulled over, bretho/license check etc etc, and if they see it they yank it.

Have a nice day.

[ImpulseTaco]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

Yeah, as per hardtopxb's comments. Urban legend also talks about detector detector detectors etc lol.

How about the US? Is everything fair game over there with fuzz busters?

Most states they are legal. Texas says they are legal, but as was mentioned, they are not legal in all states here.

Also it is HIGHLY illegal for truckers to use them. Big fine, etc. etc.

[cArSiK]

Originally Posted by goldfire

Cops don't have Radar Detectors Detectors, as the Detectors are a passive sensor, picking up the radio waves on each specific band, your not transmitting to there's nothing to detect, unless you want to try to jam the camera's.. which could be fun.

Rubbish.

Radar Dectector Detectors (VG-2) Spectre is a microwave reciever used by police to detect signals radiated by the local oscillator of a radar detector. VG-2 is a tool used by the police to identify vehicles using detectors.

[ImpulseTaco]

Originally Posted by cArSiK

Rubbish.

Radar Dectector Detectors (VG-2) Spectre is a microwave reciever used by police to detect signals radiated by the local oscillator of a radar detector. VG-2 is a tool used by the police to identify vehicles using detectors.

Is that used by YOUR police? I know the states here that disallow fuzz busters use VG-2s, how about down there?

[GT 8888]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

I believe it varies from state to state/territory. Dont quote me on this but i think they are allowed in Western Australia and the Northen Territory.

That leaves South Aust, Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania and the Australian Capital Territory as states/territories where they are illegal (big fines down here in SA.... big, big fines)

There are fines in SA but I wouldn't call it big.... I got caught with one in February by the poilce at Keith, $269- and no demerit points.

[4.9 EF Futura]

Originally Posted by GT 8888

There are fines in SA but I wouldn't call it big.... I got caught with one in February by the poilce at Keith, $269- and no demerit points.

That'll teach me to listen to rumour hey GT?? lol. Thanks for the correction tho mate.

[exrtnz]

Anyone know if jammers are legal in queensland and if the cops can pick them up.

what are the prices in the states for these devices?

[OLDFORDNUT]

QLD have the strictest laws and fines for using radar detectors,mate had one in his old XY in 2002 and was driving down the Bruce Hwy when police car came other way,he turned it off and sure enough cops came into view a few seconds later and did tyre shredding u turn and came up to group of cars he was in and signalled him to pull over, after trying to deny he had it they searched his car and found it under the seat where he had stashed it when he saw them do a u turn,
when recieving the $500fine and them taking his detector cost(895) he looked on there dash and there was a home made box about 8 inches long wirh texta writing beside each of 4 lights with different brand name detector or more under each light, so yes the police have good detector detectors, so i assume they employ some smart electronic experts to design these things.

[GT 8888]

Originally Posted by 4.9 EF Futura

That'll teach me to listen to rumour hey GT?? lol. Thanks for the correction tho mate.

no worries...I had heard horror stories too ( on this forum ) of fines in the $'000's for being caught with a detector. I was pulled over by an unmarked car, he walked up to the car and said that he detected that I had a detector. Asked me if I wanted to hand it over or they could pull the car apart. Naturally I handed it over.

I was crapping myself thinking that I was about to fork out some major "bug bunnies" but I was happy with the $269- but wrapped when they said no demerit points.

He showed me their detector dectector, big fancy looking thing mounted on their dash.....told me they had just got them from the states.

Cop spent the next 15 minutes talking about my car ( XR8) and how nice it looked and sounded.....he sent me on my way and told me that there were police everywhere between Keith and Tailem Bend so I had better watch my speed....he was right, I counted 4 police on bikes.

Brad

[exrtnz]

Ive got a valentine 1 , use it in my turbo for long trips as soon as it picks up a signal I switch it off and drop my speed. Had no problems and no tickets , its a very reliable radar.

[SBR_SVO]

Originally Posted by cArSiK

Rubbish.

Radar Dectector Detectors (VG-2) Spectre is a microwave reciever used by police to detect signals radiated by the local oscillator of a radar detector. VG-2 is a tool used by the police to identify vehicles using detectors.

Sorry but VG-2 has been jamable for a long time and most good radar detectors these days come with VG-2 protection. Had mine for 3 years and I just wave to TMU as I drive by at the speed limit.

[flappist]

The QLD police use stalcar spectre 3 RDDs and they are VERY good at detecting all radar detectors....... (well almost)

Jammers and detecters are prohibited in motor vehicles even if not connected or operating. The fines are not as bad as NSW/VIC (yet) but QPOL are quite good at hunting them down. I have played with the gizmo and it is very effective.

It WILL detect Passport X50s, Cobras etc. I know this from first hand operation.

If you aquire a radar jammer and are rolled you can also be charged under federal law and will not enjoy it.

It is, however, legal to own and operate a K band radar if you hold a ham radio licence. I have a KR10 and it works very well, unfortunately no one wants to pay my speeding fines

[ImpulseTaco]

Originally Posted by ziggee

what are the prices in the states for these devices?

They go from 250 on up to 400 for a Valentine 1 (supposedly the best) Thats in my $ by the way.

[Polyal]

so whats stopping you from mounting a detector in your dash and being able to switch it off and hide it (in your dash) when they pull you over?

Surely they wouldn't strip the car.

[WILDTRAKPX2]

Originally Posted by Polyal

so whats stopping you from mounting a detector in your dash and being able to switch it off and hide it (in your dash) when they pull you over?

Nothing is stopping you. Somehow I reckon they have seen this before. Try it out and see what happens.

Originally Posted by Polyal

Surely they wouldn't strip the car.

If you have been detected, they know 100% your car has one and they WILL find it, I can guarantee you that.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by Polyal

so whats stopping you from mounting a detector in your dash and being able to switch it off and hide it (in your dash) when they pull you over?

Surely they wouldn't strip the car.

In 1992 I had such a device "hidden" in my Qld registered car when I got pulled over at Kempsey NSW.

Cop asked me if I had a radar detector in the vehicle.

"No" says I

He told me te choice was mine.

As he believed I had a radar detector in the vehicle I could either hand it over now, have it confiscated and receive an on-the-spot fine, OR, I could follow him back to Kempsey cop shop where the vehicle would be "thoroughly searched" and when the radar detector was found it would be confiscated and I'd cop an on-the-spot-fine.

The big difference was that if I chose to go back to Kempsey, "thoroughly searched" meant that the car would be dismantled until they found it and I'd be left with a pile of car bits.

I chose to hand it over. It was confiscated and I got an $820!! on the spot fine.
I've managed without radar detectors ever since, lol.

[bob^]

http://www.radarlaser.com.au/lawsrdau.htm
thats the laws regarding them here in Aus.

Originally Posted by ronwest

In 1992 I had such a device "hidden" in my Qld registered car when I got pulled over at Kempsey NSW.

Cop asked me if I had a radar detector in the vehicle.

"No" says I

He told me te choice was mine.

As he believed I had a radar detector in the vehicle I could either hand it over now, have it confiscated and receive an on-the-spot fine, OR, I could follow him back to Kempsey cop shop where the vehicle would be "thoroughly searched" and when the radar detector was found it would be confiscated and I'd cop an on-the-spot-fine.

The big difference was that if I chose to go back to Kempsey, "thoroughly searched" meant that the car would be dismantled until they found it and I'd be left with a pile of car bits.

I chose to hand it over. It was confiscated and I got an $820!! on the spot fine.
I've managed without radar detectors ever since, lol.

you sir were taken in by what is commonly known as a bluff. There has been an insrtruction from the NSW police ombudsman a number of years ago that when searching for a radar detector the vehcile is not to be dismantled, not to be defected or directed to go anywhere to be searched, not to be unreasonably delayed not to search luggage or search people. Any reasonable searches within the passenger and luggage compartments are ok as long as no dismantling takes place.


NSW penalties for radar detectors include 9 points and fines over $1000 (check the rta website for details)

VICTORIA - (Road Safety Act 1986) 74. (1) A person must not own, sell, use or possess a device the sole or principal purpose of which is to prevent the effective use of a prescribed speed measuring device or to detect when a prescribed speed measuring device is being used.

[NARCEA]

Originally Posted by goldfire

Here in W.A. It's Legal to own and sell Radar Detectors, but Illegal to use them.

Cops don't have Radar Detectors Detectors, as the Detectors are a passive sensor, picking up the radio waves on each specific band, your not transmitting to there's nothing to detect, unless you want to try to jam the camera's.. which could be fun.

Generally you get pulled over, bretho/license check etc etc, and if they see it they yank it.

Have a nice day.

I don't believe that's true. In W.A. you are able to buy, sell and use them.