IS FITTING A LASER JAMMER TO YOUR CAR TO JAM POLICE SPEED GUNS WORTH A ￡5,000 FINE OR LIFE IMPRISONMENT?

Over the years I have known many people fit a variety of devices to their cars to either alert them to Police speed cameras or to jam them. In September last year a Porsche driver was fined ￡5,000 for fitting a laser jammer to his car & another driver was sent to prison.

Grant Robert Faulkner was driving his Porsche 4x4 in November 2017 when mobile speed cameras twice attempted to check the speed he was driving at. However, the laser jamming device did its job by interfering with the functioning of the cameras so as to prevent them from determining the speed of his vehicle.

North Yorkshire Police were unimpressed & decided to investigate the malfunctioning of the cameras. His Porsche Cayenne was seized and examined by the Police who found a laser jamming device located below the number plate which blocked the signals coming from the cameras. This meant he could drive at any speed he chose with complete confidence that he would not be caught.

He faced two charges of perverting the course of justice. When initially interviewed by the Police, he denied having fitted the device to his vehicle but later pleaded guilty at Court.

His case ended up at York Crown Court. He was fined ￡5,000 & given a suspended prison sentence. The Judge said he deserved a substantial punishment for these offences.

In another earlier case Timothy Hill, a 67 year old businessman, was jailed for eight months and banned from driving for a year for perverting the course of justice after using a jammer in his Land Rover.

 Laser Jammers

These are devices that jam or, interfere with speed detection devices operated by the Police preventing them from being able to record your speed. These devices are illegal. If you use one you can be prosecuted for perverting the course of justice (or obstructing the Police), which carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

Road safety campaigners previously called on the Government to ban sales of laser jammers that stop speed cameras catching dangerous drivers when it was discovered that the devices were being promoted on Amazon and eBay.

While it is not against the law to sell the lasers that also work as parking devices, it is illegal for a motorist to use them to prevent Police gathering information to measure a vehicle’s speed.

However, online sales have promoted the way they can interfere with police mobile speed cameras. These devices are still advertised on the internet although one supplier I came across stated that they were out of stock & did not know when the devices would become available.

Warning devices

These are devices that provide information about the location of speed cameras & whether they are active. They sound an alert in your car as you approach their range. These are currently lawful in the UK. However, be aware that if you go abroad even these types of detector may be unlawful. You will need to check what the legislation is in the country you are travelling to.

The UK government is considering legislation to make it unlawful to use any type of speed camera detectors but, as yet, nothing has been finalised.

So, before you fit any device to your car, make sure it is legal to do so. If you are caught speeding & need advice please contact me.

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