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Say, for purposes of conjecture, that a certain carmaker decides to build a "stealth car." It is effectively invisible to police traffic radar.

Would such a car be street legal? It is explicitly designed to make it harder for police to detect (let alone prove) traffic violations by the vehicle's driver.

Note: while I have framed the question under Texas' jurisdiction, I am also interested in other jurisdictions as well.

In Hoc Signo
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2 Answers2

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There has not been a case yet, since that technology does not exist, but I would assume that it falls under §23 StVO, just like laser and radar detectors and jammers:

(1c) Wer ein Fahrzeug führt, darf ein technisches Gerät nicht betreiben oder betriebsbereit mitführen, das dafür bestimmt ist, Verkehrsüberwachungsmaßnahmen anzuzeigen oder zu stören. Das gilt insbesondere für Geräte zur Störung oder Anzeige von Geschwindigkeitsmessungen (Radarwarn- oder Laserstörgeräte). Bei anderen technischen Geräten, die neben anderen Nutzungszwecken auch zur Anzeige oder Störung von Verkehrsüberwachungsmaßnahmen verwendet werden können, dürfen die entsprechenden Gerätefunktionen nicht verwendet werden.

Translated:

(1c) Anyone driving a vehicle may not operate or carry a technical device that is intended to display or interfere with traffic monitoring measures. This applies in particular to devices for disrupting or displaying speed measurements (radar warning or laser jamming devices). The corresponding device functions may not be used with other technical devices which, in addition to other purposes, can also be used to display or disrupt traffic monitoring measures.

nvoigt
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-4

  1. "Stealth" is not invisibility. Current stealth aircraft (F-22/F-35) make it harder to find, but not impossible. At the distances of traffic radar, it would be detected.

  2. In military aircraft, stealth and detection is a moving target. You build a stealth aircraft, your opponent builds better radar. Back and forth.

  3. Visible light vs radar. Your car is on the road, it will be seen. Exceeding the posted speed limit does not really need an exact number determined by radar. In a chase, all the cop really needs is his documented speed as he is chasing you. "I'm going 110mph, and he's pulling away from me."

  4. Cost and potential customer base.

  5. Currently, there is no law against a stealth car, because they do not yet exist.

WPNSGuy
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