are laser detection systems going to be made ilegal

robdeb

Are speed camera detectors ie road angel 2 going to be made ilegal because of thier laser detector
are gps detectors still ok Crying or Very sad

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:25 pm Post subject:

Interesting question. There is a very small difference between a GPS "POI locator" service that alerts you when you are in the proximity of a certain location, and a laser detector that sensors the incoming laser beam. They both are sensors of some kind.

So theoretically if you prohibit sensoring then GPS would need to be prohibited as well. But if sensoring is ok (but interference is not) then GPS is safe because it is purely passive. If it's a combined device then you will have to be able to plausibly show that the laser part is off.
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robdeb · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:29 pm Post subject:

i just heard on the radio that the might ban detectors that can inform you of a speed trap ie laser but if you can turn the laser capability off will that be ok

we will have to wait and see

thanks

nej · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 3:38 pm Post subject:

I think the whole thing about them being banned before was something to do with intercepting signals, but GPS locators obviously don't do that.
I could see that the laser detectors could be made illegal (but probably won't) but GPS locator ones could never be illegal.

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 4:14 pm Post subject:

drummer · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 5:55 pm Post subject:

lbendlin,
Surely the ban would be from intercepting signals from speed lasers and the like, and not GPS signals which are freely available to all. Otherwise SATNAV in general would have to be banned.

CoPilot

robdeb · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:02 pm Post subject:

is it just laser type detectors Rolling Eyes

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 8:55 pm Post subject:

bigfatjohn · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:49 pm Post subject:

Lutz...

Judging from your location you might not be completely up to date with the intricacies of our Wireless Telegraphy Act 1948 (I think) :D

Radio waves are freely available to all but, for certain types of transmission, it is illegal for us to act upon what we hear. In that way we can listen to the BBC but we can't rob a bank knowing, from listening to their radios, that the gendarmes are on the other side of town.

It is a minefield and I wouldn't want to have to argue it in court. :D

lbendlin · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:16 pm Post subject:

Ah ok. So when we talk about certain frequencies (and modulations?) being excluded from public reception, then indeed anything GPS should be safe since it is in a public frequency band.

(I do apologize for the rhetorical approach, but I found the topic interesting (if only from a outsider point of view ;-) )
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MrT · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 6:27 am Post subject:

The proposed wording in the Road Safety Bill is "the carriage of devices that either actively inhibit the proper function of a speed camera or detect the presence of functioning speed cameras [as opposed to dummy housings]".

This has nothing to do with the wireless telegraphy act.

By "carriage", it means that you may not have one in your vehicle even if you are not using it.

That rules out all numberplate hiders/reflectors, radar detectors, radar jammers, laser detectors, blinders, jammers and any garage door openers that interfere with detection.

It does not rule out GPS only devices.

delboy0754

Dave · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 8:08 am Post subject:

It's own detectors that can detect a camera is in the vicinity, wich basically boil down to radar/laser detectors. GATSO detectors will still be okay, because all you are doing is accessing a database.

Radar detectors were illegal to purchase until sometime in the 90's where a legal loophole got found in a court and when the judge ruled it was legal for the guy to use his radar detector, it set presidence going forward. The government want to re-plug that hole, which could easily be done but they really have chosen not to do anything about it until now. Banning database detectors is going to be impossible, all they're doing is effectively telling you that a GATSO camera is on the road and you are approaching it, it doesn't detect the camera is there, it just knows about it from a database.

If they did try to ban GATSO databases like Road Angel, or even ours, then they'd have to make it illegal for someone sitting by you in your car saying "hey, btw, watch out there's a camera half a mile down the road", and would have to prosecute anyone telling people about it, or even prosecuting you if you put an X on a paper map to signify a speed camera is there.

robdeb · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 9:23 am Post subject:

i have a road angel 2 with built in laser,if they were banned do think i could use the road angel but turn off the laser detection????????? Confused

Dave · Posted: Sun Jul 18, 2004 3:14 pm Post subject:

If it's built in, I suspect there won't be a way unless it has an on-board menu.

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