Miata Mailing List: October 1993, Message #200
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   From: BUCKINGHAM@LANDO.HNS.COM
Subject: Re: miata friendly radar detectors
   Date: Wed, 20 Oct 1993 16:44:26 -0400

>From Piet:

> Is it legal to have that stuff aboard in the States ?  I know it isn't here in Belgium, and that - if they (the bloody police) catch you having one - fines are a lot higher than a speeding ticket.  (but perhaps less than six speeding tickets !)
> You're worrying about aesthetics and theft-proofness, but isn't stealthyness (is this proper English ?) even more important ?

and Craig:
 
>The issues I had in mind for a Miata friendly radar detectors were:

>	Should be near as possible invisible to a cop 
>		Unlike a "normal car" mounting a large corded detector
>		on the (small) visors or dash would likely be visible
>		front most angles (i.e. cop by roadside, or approaching
>		in car)

>	Should be fully invisible to a cop once pulled over
>		i.e. I should be able to stow it "stealthily" sometime
>		between the onset of red/blue light and "good afternoo
>		sir, do you have any idea...."


	To answer Piet's question: radar detectors are not illegal in 
the U.S. except in Connecticut, Virginia and Washington D.C.. I think 
this has something to do with some constitutional interpretation which makes 
it difficult, but obviously not impossible, to pass a law outlawing reception 
of unsolicited electromagnetic energy.

	As for Craig's issues: I have found that a visible detector 
(to the police) can be an advantage under certain circumstances. There 
have been a couple of times I have been stopped when I have been pretty 
certain that, due to my actual speed and the noises made by my Passport 
radar detector, the policeman could not have clocked me speeding. With my 
radar detector in full view, cord dangling, I asked to see the reading
on the radar gun. Both times the policeman declined to show me the gun
and sent me on my way with a verbal warning. I normally find it difficult
and not always prudent to be so blatant with figures of authority 
wearing a gun, but on the first occasion my indignation got the better of 
me, and on the second ....well, it worked the first time.

Paul