MY SON GOT A TICKET FOR HAVING A RADAR DETECTOR THAT WAS NOT ON JUST IN THE WINDOW. HOW MUCH WILL THIS COST? DOES THIS GO AGAINST HIS DRIVIVNG RECORD?

Cost: $140 + costs and victim surcharge = $170

Points: 3

It does not matter if the radar detector was in the window or not.

Thanks.....that is so crazy....what do they do with the radar detectors they confisciate....sell them on ebay!!!!!

If there is a conviction registered, and after the appeal period (30 days), they are disposed of (smashed up-put in garbage)

If there is no conviction, they are returned to the owner.

Im a very hard working single parent!! That radar dectector was expensive! I dont have money to throw away! This is a hard lesson!!!!

They're illegal so you threw away your money the moment you paid for it.

Not where Im from!

They could be nicer to first time visitors!!! My son is a reserve sheriff and I'm a firefighter a break for service personnel would have been nice.

Regardless of the outcome of the trial, they are not returned to the owner. They are always turned over the the crown for disposal.

The offence is complete, whether or not the device is turned on or even plugged in. They're not legal in Ontario and it's the drivers reonsibility the be familiar with our laws.

Decatur wrote:

They're not legal in Ontario and it's the drivers reonsibility the be familiar with our laws.

I know both the Niagara and Windsor border crossings into Ontario have multiple large signs warning motorists that radar detectors are not allowed.

Also posted at 1000 Islands.

You'll lose your device for good and it will impact your insurance if you're a resident of Ontario.

There's a lot of urban myths regarding the radar detector (eg. You can put it in your trunk, back seat, or turn it off and it's legal to be in possession of one). You can't have them in your vehicle, period. As others have pointed out, I believe all border crossings coming from the U.S. have signs warning those entering. At the end of the day, it's going to be your responsibility to be familiar with the laws while travelling either way.

Highway Traffic Act 79. (2) wrote:

Speed measuring warning device prohibited

(2) No person shall drive on a highway a motor vehicle that is equipped with or that carries or contains a speed measuring warning device. 1996, c. 33, s. 12.

There's only one exception and it caters to manufacturers. For example, Beltronics is based out of Ohio but has a manufacturing facility in Mississauga.

Highway Traffic Act 79. (6) wrote:

Exception

(6) Subsection (2) does not apply to a person who is transporting speed measuring warning devices in sealed packages in a motor vehicle from a manufacturer to a consignee. 1996, c. 33, s. 12.

Regarding driving abstracts and insurance rates, if you're a resident of Ontario the ticket will appear on your abstract and will indeed have an impact on your insurance rates. In most cases, having a radar warning device somewhere in your vehicle will fall under the "minor" offense category with your insurance provider. It would be similar to a speeding conviction (except when listed as major or serious).

If you're not a resident, there's a reciprocal agreement between Ontario and numerous states. What this means is there's a list of offenses in Ontario that will have an equivalent offense from that state. Depending how your state works, the charge will usually be applied as if it happened there with the relevant demerit points if that's something your State does. These are usually reserved for generic charges like speeding, disobey sign/signal, careless driving, and leaving the scene of an accident. If radar detectors are legal in your place of residence, they aren't going to be apart of the agreement since there's no relevant charge where you're from. That means other than the penalties in Ontario, it's not going to follow you to your state, abstract, and ultimately impact your insurance rates.