U.S. States Where Cobra Radar Detectors Are Legal

Radar detectors are legal for passenger vehicles in 49 states. The only U.S. jurisdiction where they are prohibited in all vehicles is the District of Columbia.

Legal in All 50 States (for non-commercial vehicles)

• Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming.

Illegal

• District of Columbia – All vehicles.
• Virginia – *Detector use is legal, but **detector detectors** (VG-2, Spectre) are used by police; mounting on windshield may violate obstruction laws.*

Critical Exceptions (Federal & Commercial)

• Commercial vehicles >10,000 lbs: **Federal law (49 CFR 392.71) bans radar detectors nationwide.**
• Military bases: Often prohibited by installation regulation.
• Canada: Illegal in most provinces (except BC, AB, SK).

Windshield Mounting Laws

Many states (CA, MN, etc.) prohibit mounting any device on the windshield. Use a visor or dash mount to avoid a citation.

Verify Locally

Laws change. Check your state's vehicle code or the Radar Detector Laws by State guide from reputable sources (e.g., RadarTest, Escort) before traveling.