Radar warning devices: do you know which ones are legal and which are not?

There are currently thousands of speed checkpoints, the radars used by the DGT. Among these, the fixed radars stand out, several of which are section control radars. There are also mobile radars, which can be installed at specific points on the road or in vehicles, so they can be placed in different locations. Twelve Pegasus helicopters keep watch from the sky, and we know there are 15 camouflaged vans, along with other vehicles used to support radars, plus the drones that have only recently started operating.

But we also know there are systems and devices that help us detect the presence of these radars and that can save us from a fine. We already know that the ideal is always to stay below the speed limit set for each road, but sometimes our foot can slip and, through a lapse of attention, we end up with a fine we could have avoided if we had known there was a radar on that particular stretch.

Legal and illegal devices

As I said, there are devices that help us detect the presence of a radar and that are completely legal. Others, which use more complex systems, are illegal, and a higher penalty than if you exceed the maximum speed can be imposed on you. We tell you which devices are legal and which ones you must not use.

• Radar warning device: This system is the only legal one of all those available. The DGT publishes each year where all the fixed and section control radars are, so this device draws on this public information. When we approach the kilometre marker where the radar is located, it alerts the driver. In these cases, the radars are all well signposted, so this is redundant information. In the case of portable radars, there is no specific data, so they do not alert. That said, the DGT declares the stretches where it usually places them, so it is possible that on these, which the device knows about, there may be one. Of course, it does not detect camouflaged vans, Pegasus helicopters or drones.
• Radar detector: This device is illegal and can carry a fine of 200 euros and the loss of 3 points from your licence. With this type of device, you can tell when someone is trying to measure your car’s speed with wave radars, such as some of the mobile radars. That said, it is ineffective against laser radars, so its use is quite limited and can lead to the penalty explained above.
• Radar jammer: If the radar detector is illegal and carries a penalty, the radar jammer is totally prohibited. The device blocks the action of any type of radar trying to capture your car’s speed, including radars that use laser technology. For that reason, you do not need to use it to earn a fine of up to 6,000 euros and 6 points from your licence. Just carrying it in the car and being located at a routine checkpoint already carries this penalty. And watch out, because the workshop that installed it can be fined up to 30,000 euros.

It must be clear that speed limits are set to be obeyed. There are other matters that can be debated, but if they are exceeded, there are consequences. Almost always, in the form of a fine, and if on top of that these kinds of illegal devices are used, the penalties can go beyond those imposed for speeding.