Did you know a single speeding ticket in Indiana could increase your auto insurance costs by nearly 25%? Studies have shown that the average full-coverage auto insurance policy in the Hoosier State costs just under $1,300 per year. The average full-coverage auto insurance policy for someone with a speeding ticket, meanwhile, soars to over $1,600.
For this reason alone, you may consider investing in a radar detector for your car. But before doing it, make sure you know the radar detectors law in Indiana.
Keep reading to discover whether or not it’s legal for Hoosiers to have radar detectors in their vehicles to avoid speeding tickets.
What Is the Radar Detectors Law in Indiana?
Consumer radar detectors have been around for about 60 years. One of the first models was the Radar Sentry by Radatron. It emerged in the early 1960s and immediately caught the attention of those interested in sidestepping speeding tickets.
Since then, states have had to decide whether to allow drivers to rely on radar detectors to steer clear of speeding tickets. So, where does their legal status stand in Indiana as of right now?
You’ll be happy to hear that the radar detectors law in Indiana makes them legal to use. There is, however, one exception: Radar detectors are only legal in passenger vehicles as opposed to commercial vehicles like large trucks. Federal law makes them illegal in any vehicles that weigh over 10,000 pounds nationwide.
What About the Laws Regarding Laser Jammers and Radar Jammers?
The radar detectors law in Indiana has surely enabled drivers in Indiana to avoid their fair share of speeding tickets over time. They aren’t the only devices people utilize to monitor police activity when they’re driving around in the state, though.
Some drivers also depend on laser jammers to stop the LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) technology that police use to pick off speeding drivers from working properly. You might be surprised to find out that these laser jammers are also legal under the current radar detectors law in Indiana.
Radar jammers, on the other hand, are not permitted in Indiana or any other state for that matter. These devices are designed to mess with radio communications, so they’ve been outlawed under federal law.
Can Lawyers Use Radar Detectors as Evidence in Legal Settings?
While the radar detectors law in Indiana has allowed drivers to use these devices to elude the long arm of the law in certain cases, a radar detector could also turn into a key piece of evidence in a court case.
Imagine you’re involved in a lawsuit in the aftermath of a car accident, and the other driver in your case was using a radar detector at the time of your crash. Your car crash lawyer might argue that its presence suggests this driver doesn’t always maintain the proper speed limit.
A radar detector might only serve as circumstantial evidence. But it’s still worth acknowledging the importance it could have to those involved in car accident lawsuits.
Reach Out to Us To Ask More Questions About Using Radar Detectors in Indiana
Were you involved in a car accident caused by another driver in Indiana recently? If this driver was using a radar detector when the crash occurred, it could turn into evidence in your case, even though the radar detectors law in Indiana doesn’t prevent them from using it legally.
Let a car accident lawyer from Stewart & Stewart Attorneys evaluate your accident and begin creating a compelling case on your behalf. Touch base with us at (317) 537-9616 today.