THE AA is calling for a ban on the sale, advertising, purchase and use of radar speed trap detectors following a court decision which ruled they are legal to use. Use of the devices, which cost up to £500 and fit on the car dashboard to warn drivers of police radar speed detecting equipment, was thought to be illegal. Under the Wireless Telegraph Act 1949, it was believed that drivers caught using them could be fined up to £5,000.

Calls for a ban were led by the AA after a High Court judge overturned a driver's conviction for using a detector. As a result it is expected that numerous motorists who have been convicted for using radar detectors will now appeal.