• With some exceptions, laser detectors are legal in Florida.Steve Allen/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
  
  There is a sort of quiet war going on between traffic enforcement officers and a technologically savvy subsection of drivers all over the world. Each side escalates it as new gadgets are invented and put into use to either measure the speed of motorists and catch those exceeding the limit or, on the other side, to detect the police and foil their efforts. The most recent battle in this war concerns laser guns that measure the speed of vehicles using pulses of light, and laser detectors which can detect infrared beams aimed at a car. In Florida, no laws explicitly prohibit laser detectors but there is one law that may cause trouble for those employing these devices.
  
  

Commercial Vehicles

• Florida enforces the federal law against drivers of commercial vehicles using radar or laser detectors. According to Title 49 section 392.71 of the Code of Federal Regulations, it is illegal for truck drivers and drivers of other commercial vehicles to use or even be in possession of one of these devices.
  
  

Statute 316.2952

• Florida does have a law that drivers of private vehicles who want to use laser detectors should know about. Statute 316.2952 of Florida's Uniform Traffic Control states that "A person shall not operate any motor vehicle on any public highway, road, or street with any sign, sun screening material, product or covering attached to, or located in or upon, the windshield...." What this means is that drivers with laser detectors attached to their windshields may get pulled over and ticketed. Violation of this statute is a noncriminal traffic infraction and is treated as a non-moving violation.
  
  

Related Laws

• Federal law prohibits the use of radar and laser detectors on military bases -- even on military bases in states like Florida where such devices are legal.
  
  The use of radar and laser jammers is also illegal in Florida.