Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83 based; site homxa.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!lll-crg!dual!qantel!ihnp4!mhuxn!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!homxa!gritz From: gritz@homxa.UUCP (R.SHARPLES) Newsgroups: net.auto,net.legal Subject: Radar Detector Legislation Message-ID: <1081@homxa.UUCP> Date: Tue, 6-Aug-85 10:51:34 EDT Article-I.D.: homxa.1081 Posted: Tue Aug 6 10:51:34 1985 Date-Received: Sun, 11-Aug-85 07:19:02 EDT Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel NJ Lines: 37 Xref: linus net.auto:6518 net.legal:1637 I heard on the news today that a NJ assemblyman for Middlesex County (Schwartz I believe) has introduced legislation making the sale, possession and use of radar detectors illegal in New Jersey. As I am not a resident of NJ I cannot contact my representative and complain but I urge all of you netters in NJ and everywhere to fight this sort of legislation. Radar guns should be unconstiutional but the case has never made it to the Supreme Court. Radar guns are electronic surveillance devices that the police use at random on citizens who are driving motor vehicles. Most motorists obey the speed limit (more than half), a few speed (less than half, the %s don't matter). However, the police indiscriminately use electronic surveillance devices to sample the speed of all cars. They then apprehend the drivers who are exceeding the limit. A radar detector is the citizen's only defense against this invasion of privacy (unwarranted search and seizure). Not to mention the fact that the police radar signal is a publicly broadcasted radio signal which, according to the FCC, can be picked up by anyone. If the government outlaws the use of radar detectors as Schwartz (sp?) has proposed, it will be an additional slap in the face for citizens' privacy. If the government believes it has the right to use electronic surveillance devices on all motorists to catch speeders, what will stop it from using electronic surveillance devices to monitor all conversations in public places in an effort to catch drug dealers? Not only must we fight the government's efforts to confiscate our only protection against these electronic surveillance methods but we must fight against the USE of these surveillance methods. You may flame me for sounding paranoid, but I am angry at the fact that each year the government tries to enact more unconstitutional laws to control our behavior. Russ Sharples homxa!gritz