Infrared laser jammers designed to disrupt police speed guns are illegal in 12 U.S. states, Automoblog reported.
Drivers hoping to avoid speeding tickets have increasingly turned to laser jammers and radar detectors. These dashboard gadgets use infrared lights to interfere with police laser speed guns. This gives motorists time to slow down before getting pulled over.
Automoblog tracked the legal status of these devices across the country. As of early 2025, 12 states had outlawed laser technologies on passenger and commercial vehicles.
The 12 states prohibiting laser jammers span multiple regions. South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, Tennessee, Nebraska, California, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota all restrict the equipment.
Washington, D.C. also outlaws the devices. Despite these state-level restrictions, laser jammers remain legal under federal law.
State legislatures target the technology because it is intentionally designed to tamper with police equipment. Radar detectors face fewer restrictions. As of 2025, radar detectors were outlawed only in Virginia and Washington, D.C., per Automoblog.
Radar detectors cannot be used on military bases or in commercial vehicles weighing over 10,000 pounds either. Unlike jammers, radar detectors do not emit infrared beams. They simply alert drivers to radio waves emitted by radar guns.
Drivers looking for alternatives can use navigation apps that remain legal across the United States. The Waze app features a police sighting function.
This tool presents user-provided entries alerting motorists to police presence along their routes. Google Maps offers another approach by reminding drivers of changing speed limits.
Google Maps introduced its speedometer feature to Android Auto users in 2026. The tool informs users if they are driving too quickly.
These navigation services are free alternatives that help drivers monitor speed limits without requiring extra paid equipment.
