Radar detectors are electronic devices commonly installed by people in their vehicles. Their goal is to alert them to the presence of radar guns used by law enforcement. When the radar detector detects a signal, it alerts you to slow down.
Most drivers find radar detectors to be useful tools, but many are against these devices as they feel that radar detectors encourage speeding and reckless driving.
The laws regarding installing and using radar detector vehicles vary from one state to the other in the U.S. And so before you purchase one, it is a good idea to know the legal aspects of using these devices in your state.
Relevant Restrictions
So, are radar detectors legal in Mississippi? Short answer: No. Mississippi is among the few U.S. states where it is illegal to install and use radar detectors in your vehicle.
According to Miss. Code, Section 63-3-519, it is illegal for any person, law enforcement agency, or peace officer to buy or use any kind of radar speed detection equipment on any public road, street or highway of the state, unless they are members of the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol.
However, this equipment can be used by:
- Municipal law enforcement officers that belong to regions where the municipality has a population of 2,000 or more but not if the population is less than 1,500.
- Police campuses that operate within any university or college area, where there are over 2,000 enrolled students.
- Municipal law enforcement officers where the municipality has a population of more than 15,000 on federally designated highways.
Windshield Mounting
As per Mississippi radar detector laws, the installation and use of radar detector devices is illegal in all vehicles in the state.
You cannot install a radar detector device on any part of your vehicle, including the windshield. If law enforcement personnel detect a radar detector in your vehicle or if you’re caught using one, then you will get a ticket.
Privately Owned vs Commercially Owned Vehicles
Typically, most states in the country prohibit commercially owned vehicles from installing and using radar detectors, but allow privately owned passenger vehicles to use these devices.
But in Mississippi, radar detector laws prohibit the installation and use of radar detectors by all vehicles, including privately owned or commercially owned vehicles.
Driving in a Military Area
In general, it is illegal to enter or drive with a radar detector mounted visibly in the vehicle. And, if you have such a device installed in your vehicle, you must first switch it off and put it away before entering the military base.
This rule applies in the state of Mississippi, where you will not be permitted entry to a military base with a radar detector in your vehicle.
Radar Detector Alternatives
If radar detectors are illegal in your state, then you may consider using some other alternative device that serves the same function such as LiDars, laser jammers, GPS or phone apps.
However, you must confirm if these devices are legal in your state to avoid any problems with law enforcement.
Radar Detector Common Myths
Radar detectors are useful to drivers, but many people don’t opt for them because of the following common myths regarding radar detectors:
- Not getting a speeding ticket if you have a radar detector: Having a radar detector in your vehicle will not prevent you from getting a speeding ticket if you’re driving over the speed limit.
- The device will only alert you that there is a radar gun nearby so you can have sufficient time to slow down and not get a speeding ticket.
- Radar detectors and radar jammers are the same: No, these are different devices. Radar detectors scan for police radars and alert you to their presence. Radar jammers use a signal to jam or disable police radars, which makes them very illegal.
State of Mississippi Info
Nestled in the southeastern United States, Mississippi is named after misi-ziibi, the Ojibwe word for “great river”. The state stands at 31st in population and 32nd in size.
The state is bordered by the Gulf of Mexico, Alabama, Louisiana, and the Mississippi River, and is popular as the birthplace of blues music and the site of many crucial events of the civil rights movement.
Population: 2,949,965
Capital: Jackson
Registered vehicles: 2,015,915
Total lane miles: 162,088
Number of highways: 9