JoeRockhead:
Are detectors illegal in Germany? They are prohibited where I live, and there aren't many options for units that are not picked up by the spectre "detector detectors" unfortunately, which is what the police use to locate them.
Highly illegal. If the police finds a (working) detector in your car, they usually confiscate it. In a worse case scenario, when the detector has a fixed install, they can confiscate the car (temporary). You get a fine of 75 € and, I think, one point on your license (at over 8 points, the license gets suspended).
Stealth installs are still best because the police over here is not trained to detect them. I know a guy who has been stopped a couple of times and one time, the police was even suspicious (they used a laser but the laser didn't "measure", so they suspected foul play) and checked the car but didn't find anything. The trick? The laser "blinders" were integrated into the black bumper and they didn't realize it. They actually thought they were parking sensors but the owner replaced the parking sensors with the blinders and even added two more.
On the other hand, I once saw a Cayenne with UK license plates who had his laser blinders installed in the front grill. Even a not so experienced police officer would have spotted them immediately, not very clever.
Usually however, the German police does not look for radar detectors. Also, they aren't always useful because German police uses stealth video surveillance cars (they follow you and "catch" you) or they are using section control (distance between two points, no radar or laser) or a light sensor. On the other hand, we do not have police cars with integrated laser guns who can track us while driving from the opposite direction. So basically, if you pay attention very very well and keep your eyes open, the German police has a hard time to catch you.
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RC (Germany) - Rennteam Editor Porsche 991 Carrera 4 GTS Cabriolet, Porsche Macan Turbo, Ford Mustang GT500 Shelby SVT (2014), Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT (2014)