Whether you live in South Carolina or if you’re planning a road trip through parts of the state, knowing the exact traffic regulations is essential for your safety. This applies especially to those who use radar detectors.
For instance, there are few states in the country that don’t allow the use of radar detectors. Others, although permitting their usage, might have certain conditions under which you can use such devices.
Considering that, are radar detectors legal in South Carolina? Although South Carolina has made radar detectors legal, there are some limitations to the law that you should know about. In this article, we’ll discuss what they are.
Windshield Mounting
Of all the places where you’ve thought about installing your radar detector, be sure to avoid the windshield.
Doing this is illegal in the state of South Carolina, mostly because it is viewed as an easily avoidable distraction and compromised road safety. The same applies to other windshield-mounted devices.
There are many other spots in your car that can hold the detector for you, such as the dashboard. You can use a separate adapter to install the radar detector in the appropriate place.
Privately Owned vs Commercially Owned Vehicles
When it comes to the legality of radar detectors, the laws for commercial and private vehicles are different.
If you drive a commercial vehicle, as long as it weighs under 10,000 lbs, you can use a radar detector. Anything more than that would make it illegal to attach and operate radar detectors.
Driving in a Military Area
Military establishments and roads passing through them are strictly no-radar-detector zones in all 50 U.S. states.
Radar detectors can cause interference with military equipment that uses the same technology, which is why it is illegal to drive in these areas with these devices switched on. It’s advised to uninstall them and switch them off before you drive on such roads.
In What States Are Radar Detectors Illegal?
Radar detectors are illegal only in Virginia and Washington, D.C. Do not use them if you want to live in or move to these places or even if you only want to visit them for a limited period of time.
Can the Police Detect My Radar Detector?
Yes, the police can detect radar detectors. This is because they employ radar detector-detectors (RDDs). These are devices that can detect the frequencies that your radar detector might be operating at.
State of South Carolina Info
Also known as the Palmetto State, South Carolina is located in the southeastern part of the U.S. South Carolina is the first-ever state in the U.S. to open a library.
The state fruit of South Carolina is peach and it grows more peaches than Georgia. A state full of scenic beauty, South Carolina is very diverse and has a rich history, heritage and culture.
Population: 5.25 million
Capital: Columbia
Registered vehicles: 4,561,299
Total lane miles: 166,594
Number of highways: 11