Massachusetts Radar Detector Laws Explained
The law on radar detectors in Massachusetts is fairly straightforward. Under Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, section 9, radar detectors are illegal in all commercial vehicles which are in excess of 18,000 pounds gross weight. The statute defines commercial vehicles as any vehicle that is declared to be a commercial trailer or private trailer, any truck or bus, both public and private, and any truck tractor, truck tractor with semi-trailer, truck tractor with a semi-trailer and a converter dolly, truck and semitrailer combination, truck tractor with semi-trailer, truck tractor and trailer combination, a combination of a truck tractor and two semitrailers or a combination of a truck tractor, two trailers and one converter dolly.
Curiously, the statute does not prohibit radar detectors in passenger vehicles under state law . However, under 540 CMR 22.02, the Board of Appeals has determined that the radar detector ban applies to all vehicles on public highways in the Commonwealth. Since the Massachusetts Turnpike is a public highway, use of radar detectors on the Turnpike is illegal.
There is one exception to the general ban on radar detectors in Massachusetts. The statute does allow for one exception. Per Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 90, section 9: The provisions of this section shall not apply to radar detectors contained in motor vehicles registered and primarily used for law enforcement purposes and operated by duly authorized police officers of the commonwealth and cities and towns.
In other words, privately owned law enforcement vehicles are allowed to use radar detectors.
Special Cases and Exceptions
(It should be noted that while radar detectors are permitted statewide, all cities and towns may have ordinances prohibiting their use in those municipalities. This is due to a home rule petition passed in 1988 that authorized cities and towns to regulate the use of radar detectors. In addition, some city ordinances use the term "radar device" to refer to a police radar unit, not necessarily a radar detector.)
Practical Differences in Radar Detector Laws in New England
While radar detectors may be a familiar sight on the roads of Massachusetts, their legal status varies across New England. In Maine, the laws are similar to those in Massachusetts. The use of radar detectors is legal within the state, but electronic devices that include the ability to jam radar signals are illegal. Maine law allows officers to search a vehicle suspected of defining traffic laws and if a radar detector is discovered, it is probable that the device will be seized.
New Hampshire has no statewide regulations regarding radar detectors, but the situation is different in Vermont. In Vermont state boundaries, the law is similar to that in Massachusetts, except most sheriff departments in Vermont set their own vehicle policies regarding radar detectors. If you happen to get pulled over and a radar detector is discovered, it is likely to be confiscated.
Rhode Island restricts the use of radar detectors. Only vehicles manufactured in 1980 or earlier may be equipped with radar detectors and even older automobiles cannot be sold with radar detectors attached. The sale of handheld radar detectors is also illegal in Rhode Island.
The only state in New England where radar detectors are completely banned is Connecticut. Using, selling, manufacturing or even importing radar devices into the state is illegal. In some ways, Connecticut does not have the technology that makes speed traps more efficient, so there may be fewer encounters on highways and byways.
How Radar Detectors Operate
Most radar detectors on the market today employ one of two types of technology: super heterodyne or digital. Super heterodyne has been around the longest and is essentially a radio receiver that has been modified to pick up radar signals. Super heterodyne technology is either single- or multiple-band. Digital detectors use a microprocessor to interpret the signals that the detector picks up. Digital radar detectors can be single- or multi-band, as well.
If a radar signal is detected, the radar detector receives and processes the information. The information is then translated into a visual or sound alert (or both). Some radar detectors allow drivers to customize how they receive alerts (e.g., tone or voice).
Radar detectors utilize several types of antennas. Typically, all radar bands are monitored using a special diode that has been designed to monitor all frequencies. A piezoelectric ultrasonic speaker is commonly used to alert the driver. An LED display is found on most radar detectors and provides information about the frequency that has been detected. With a digital radar detector, a digital signal processor converts the analog radar signals into a digital format that can be processed by the microprocessor. Some radar detectors have built-in microphones that enable alerts to be delivered via voice messages. The most advanced radar detectors provide voice alerts that can indicate which radar band has been detected, the radar gun’s frequency, and the radar gun’s power output.
The Benefits and Drawbacks to Having a Radar Detector
When it comes to traffic tickets, the most common question from clients as they fight the uphill battle of trying to beat a speeding ticket is whether or not they can avoid getting caught altogether. Obviously the more speed limit signs you see on the side of the road or on the highway, the more likely you are to slow down, but obviously we can’t avoid the posted speed limits themselves. Instead, we have heard over the years of these modern day contraptions we have dubbed "radar detectors". While these devices can be used for purposes other than controlling your car’s speed, more often than not the primary reason people buy them is simply to ‘detect’ a speed trap that might be set up ahead, potentially in an effort to help you avoid getting pulled over and receiving that speeding ticket.
The Pros
On the plus side for those that would like to avoid speed traps altogether, "the idea is that there is an opportunity to learn about the location of speed indicators set up by police officers as well as speed traps, allowing you to slow down and avoid a speeding ticket". There is also something to be said about having a radar detector in the event that your speedometer is broken or not working properly, however, this benefit is obviously outweighed by the dangers that stem from being distracted by the radar detector while you are operating the motor vehicle.
The Cons
For those who do not like to speed at all and then primarily purchase a radar detector so that they have an alert system to inform them that they should slow down and watch their speed , the dangers can outweigh the benefits. Specifically, the Massachusetts State Police and many other groups blame these devices for causing reckless driving and having a detrimental effect on the safety concerns of the roads. In allegedly lessening the chance of getting caught speeding, the thinking goes that there would be an increase in the number of speeding tickets issued. These speeding tickets are designed to encourage the offenders or drivers under the influence of alcohol to slow down or set down their drinks before they leave the bar and then proceed to operate their motor vehicles. From this perspective, radar detectors make it easier for them to speed and getting drunk and drive, thus endangering the lives and safety of everyone else on the road. The obvious proponents of the radar detector would argue accordingly that the ability to detect the radar in advance will allow them to drive more carefully if necessary. Either way, the more frequently speeding tickets are issued, the higher chances that you will be stopped and ultimately issued a citation under circumstances that you would otherwise have avoided had the officer no longer been waiting around that corner. Finally, there is also an ethical argument to be made that the radar detector gives drivers an unfair advantage over the rest of the public. Another track of thought is that some people can prove that their speed was not against the limit due to a broken speedometer, for example, authorities claim there is always a chance they were speeding and that knowing this in advance is a definite advantage.
Other Options to Radar Detectors
For those who may not feel comfortable with the potential legal grey area of radar detectors, there are some alternatives. One such alternative is a GPS speed monitoring app, which uses the GPS functionality of your smartphone to provide you with real-time information about your speed. These apps can alert you to when you are exceeding posted limits and can help you track your speeding habits over time. Another option is a traffic alert or radar jammer. These devices use a combination of technologies to alert you to upcoming speed traps. Jammers are illegal in Massachusetts and many other states, as the FCC considers them a type of radar interference. However, these devices can provide an early warning of nearby police activity, which could help you avoid an expensive ticket if you pay attention to the alerts. A final important tool for your speed detection arsenal is your smartphone’s built-in mobile data connection. Stay abreast of traffic hazards in your area using Google Maps or a similar service to alert you to likely issues. The combination of turn-by-turn directions and advanced routing algorithms that estimate likely traffic patterns can help you avoid patches of heavy speed trap activity that you might otherwise run through.
Updates and Changes in the Law in Massachusetts
Massachusetts has had a somewhat turbulent history with its stance on radar detectors. The state outlawed them altogether in the late 1980s, leading to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruling in 1994 that the ban was a violation of the state constitution. In response, the state legislator lifted the ban, with the caveat that the radar detector must not obstruct any field of vision, and it must be located in or mounted to the windshield solely by a non-adhesive method, such as a suction cup.
The state last made a significant update to its radar detector laws in 2017 , when it lifted the ban on radar jammers. The law still prohibits the sale of radar jamming devices to the general public, but police are no longer allowed to use them on cars believed to be operating illegal radar detectors.
Because Massachusetts has gone through so many ups and downs in the past few decades with regard to its laws surrounding radar detectors, drivers should make sure they stay up to date on how these laws continue to evolve. Solutions Automotive recommends all drivers to familiarize themselves with the Massachusetts legislature’s decisions on radar detectors so that they can avoid unpleasant surprises with law enforcement.