Are Radar Detectors Legal? Laws by State (2026)

Quick Answer

Radar Detectors is legal in 44 states as of 2026. It's banned in 3 states and restricted with conditions in 3. Laws vary significantly — what's perfectly fine in one state can carry criminal penalties next door.

44 Legal

3 Restricted

3 Illegal

Last verified: April 2026 · About our research

Radar Detectors Legality Map

Legal

Restrictions

Illegal

Unverified

All 50 States

State	Status	Summary
Alabama	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use in private passenger vehicles in Alabama. There is no specific statute banning possess...	Details →
Alaska	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Alaska for use in private vehicles. There are no state laws prohibiting possession or use o...	Details →
Arizona	RESTRICTED	Radar detectors are legal to possess and use in private passenger vehicles in Arizona but illegal in commercial vehicles...	Details →
Arkansas	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Arkansas for use in private vehicles. Arkansas law does not prohibit possession or use of r...	Details →
California	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in California for use in private passenger vehicles. California Vehicle Code § 26708 prohibits...	Details →
Colorado	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use in private passenger vehicles in Colorado. There is no state law prohibiting possessio...	Details →
Connecticut	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Connecticut for use in private passenger vehicles. There is no statute banning possession o...	Details →
Delaware	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Delaware for use in private passenger vehicles. Delaware law does not prohibit possession o...	Details →
Florida	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Florida for use in private passenger vehicles. Florida law does not prohibit possession or ...	Details →
Georgia	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Georgia for use in private passenger vehicles. There is no state law banning possession or ...	Details →
Hawaii	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Hawaii. There are no specific prohibitions in Ha...	Details →
Idaho	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Idaho. Idaho Code does not prohibit radar detectors in passenger vehicles, though commercia...	Details →
Illinois	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Illinois. Illinois law does not specifically ban radar detectors, but commercial vehicles a...	Details →
Indiana	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Indiana. Indiana Code does not prohibit radar detectors in passenger vehicles but restricts...	Details →
Iowa	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Iowa. Iowa Code does not prohibit radar detectors in passenger vehicles but bans their use ...	Details →
Kansas	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Kansas. Kansas statutes do not prohibit radar detectors in passenger vehicles but restrict ...	Details →
Kentucky	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Kentucky. Kentucky law prohibits radar detectors only in commercial vehicles over 10,000 po...	Details →
Louisiana	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Louisiana. Louisiana law prohibits radar detectors only in commercial vehicles over 10,000 ...	Details →
Maine	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Maine. Maine law does not prohibit radar detectors in passenger vehicles but bans their use...	Details →
Maryland	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Maryland. Maryland law prohibits radar detectors only in commercial vehicles over 10,000 po...	Details →
Massachusetts	ILLEGAL	Radar detectors are illegal in Massachusetts for all vehicles under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 90, Section 13B. ...	Details →
Michigan	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use in private passenger vehicles in Michigan. There is no state statute prohibiting posse...	Details →
Minnesota	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Minnesota for private passenger vehicles. Minnesota Statutes do not prohibit the possession...	Details →
Mississippi	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Mississippi for private passenger vehicles. There is no state law banning the use or posses...	Details →
Missouri	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Missouri for private passenger vehicles. Missouri law does not prohibit possession or use o...	Details →
Montana	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Montana for private passenger vehicles. Montana law does not restrict possession or use of ...	Details →
Nebraska	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Nebraska for private passenger vehicles. Nebraska statutes do not prohibit possession or us...	Details →
Nevada	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Nevada for private passenger vehicles. Nevada Revised Statutes do not restrict possession o...	Details →
New Hampshire	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in New Hampshire for private passenger vehicles. There is no state law prohibiting possession ...	Details →
New Jersey	ILLEGAL	Radar detectors are illegal in New Jersey under NJ Statutes Title 39:4-50. The law prohibits the use or possession of ra...	Details →
New Mexico	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in New Mexico. There are no specific state statutes...	Details →
New York	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in New York. There is no state law banning radar detectors, though commercial vehicles are sub...	Details →
North Carolina	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in North Carolina for private passenger vehicles. There is no state statute prohibiting their ...	Details →
North Dakota	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in North Dakota. No state laws restrict their use o...	Details →
Ohio	LEGAL	Radar Detectors are legal in Ohio. There are no state statutes banning radar detectors, but commercial vehicles are subj...	Details →
Oklahoma	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Oklahoma. No state laws prohibit their use or sa...	Details →
Oregon	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Oregon. There are no state laws banning radar de...	Details →
Pennsylvania	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private passenger vehicles in Pennsylvania. There is no state statut...	Details →
Rhode Island	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Rhode Island. There are no state laws restrictin...	Details →
South Carolina	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private passenger vehicles in South Carolina. There are no state sta...	Details →
South Dakota	RESTRICTED	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in South Dakota. There are no specific state statut...	Details →
Tennessee	RESTRICTED	Radar detectors are legal to possess and use in Tennessee for private passenger vehicles. Tennessee law does not specifi...	Details →
Texas	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private passenger vehicles in Texas. Texas Transportation Code does ...	Details →
Utah	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Utah. Utah Code does not specifically restrict r...	Details →
Vermont	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in Vermont for private passenger vehicles. Vermont law does not prohibit possession or use of ...	Details →
Virginia	ILLEGAL	Radar detectors are illegal in Virginia for all vehicles. Virginia Code §46.2-1079 prohibits the use or possession of ra...	Details →
Washington	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Washington State. Washington law does not prohib...	Details →
West Virginia	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal in West Virginia for private passenger vehicles. West Virginia Code does not restrict possessi...	Details →
Wisconsin	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private vehicles in Wisconsin. Wisconsin statutes do not prohibit ra...	Details →
Wyoming	LEGAL	Radar detectors are legal for use and possession in private passenger vehicles in Wyoming. Wyoming statutes do not prohi...	Details →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Radar Detectors legal in the United States?

How many states allow radar detectors?

As of 2026, radar detectors is legal in 44 states, restricted with conditions in 3 states, and illegal in 3 states. Use the map and table on this page to check your specific state.

What happens if you get caught with radar detectors in a state where it's illegal?

Penalties range from civil fines to felony charges depending on the state. Some states treat first offenses as misdemeanors with small fines, while others classify possession as a felony carrying prison time. Check the specific state page for exact penalties, charge levels, and enforcement likelihood.

Can you travel across state lines with radar detectors?

Crossing state lines changes which laws apply. If radar detectors is legal in your home state but illegal in the state you're entering, you can face criminal charges the moment you cross the border. This applies to driving, flying, and shipping.