So I just have a few questions about radar detectors.

I'm pretty clueless about the subject so I apologize if my assumptions are incorrect/not knowing what I'm talking about in general.

Are all forms of radar detectors legal? And if not, what's the difference? I see radar detectors selling in electronic stores and Target and whatnot so I'm assuming there are at least a spectrum of legal ones. What exactly do they do?

thanks for any help to begin with and any additional information regarding them is welcome, the more I know the better

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radar_detectors

That's pretty basic info, but it'll explain what you want to know. As far as legality goes, it has a chart at the bottom telling you what state they are legal to use them in etc.

 

I think VA and DC is not legal..

 

Correcto only banned in Wash DC and the state of Virginia. Any detectors you buy at an established retail location (BestBuy, Target, ect.) will be legal for use, but some of the ones on the internet may have illegal radar jamming functions. But those will have fairly clear disclaimers... and probably will not work anyway. I've had the same $100 radar detector for several years with no problems, and I have no idea why some radar detectors cost over $400, so when buying your first one, that is something to think about.

Also when you choose one, take the plunge and hard wire it into your ACC-on power, hide the wires.

(side note: there are two technologies built into modern radar guns that supposedly allow police to know if you have a radar detector. The first technology was VG2 I think it was called, and soon of course the radar detectors and a VG2 chip to block this. Now there is a more modern technology in the most recent radar guns, supposedly. Spectra it might be called? This could all be marketing hype, but it is thoroughly discussed on the internet.) I never cared too much because it is completely legal to own one. I have had 2 cops give me a hard time about having a detector, but I'm sure I deserved it for speeding.