European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 19, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Magazine a to Ltd Dpi tycoon device  under and photog for attn Utun Pearl it a by Arft h Driver exceeds Speed omit police officer pm a Tvete device that meet is Lioto cute owner is ident ated by Tow a cent number ends Summat is nailed. Battling the radar busters by Craig Wolff new York times Hen Gil co decided to deny automobile Murance to Drivers who said Hoy owned radar detectors i expected no controversy. Ii made sense said August p Alegi. Vice president and Deputy general counsel Tor the company. People own Del Clors of one reason Only to avoid Speed Lions that makes them unacceptable risks " Gelco. The government employees insurance co underestimated How much opposition the decision would arouse the plan established Early last year has provoked a new Dobalo in the United Stales Over a product that has lined tha emotions of Drivers Law enforcement officials lawmakers and manufacturers Oil and on for 20 years the locus of the dispute is in Maryland one of Many slates where radar detectors Are Legal. In december a hearing was hold in Baltimore by the slate licensing and regulation department to decide in Cico could deny insurance to Drivers mho used them. A Pliny is expected in february. Aligi acknowledged hat the new requirement is very diff inuit to Ento i because the insurer must rely on tie applicant s honesty Greico s applications ask it the Driver uses a Detector but does nol stale Hal insurance will to denied to users those who apply by phone arc asked the same question but Are nol lot that a yes answer disqualifies Ihm it they Don t like it they can go someplace  Aligi said. The real Issue is we Thor the do lectors should be declared illegal. This a the Liisi Lime an insurance company has Laken a land that relates to that question those who support Gaco argue thai detectors save Only As a Way for Drivers to evade speeding tickets and that they Are a detriment to safety on the roads. These supporters Lake what they Call the common sense View and Point to advertisements saying thai detectors can help you beat the rap " some manufacturers even Promise to pay speeding tickets. Opponents of the insurance plan contend that the tour Milton people in Theu Nilca Stales who own radar detectors Are on the whole safer More Alert Drivers. They argue thai detectors Are a Way to fight Speed limits that Are set solely to raise revenues. They also believe that detectors protect the fundamental right to know when you Are under  la s a fallacy thai everyone who owns a radar Detector is out there speeding around said Janico Lee president of the radio association defending airwave rights inc. Tad Arthe Trade group representing the radar Delector Industry which How can a company deny insurance when Radai detectors Are Legal said Jim banter president of the citizens coalition Lor rational traffic Laws which has Headquarters in Madison via All they Are trying to do is limit i hair liability. And remember they re against detectors because the Mic speeding tickets you gel the More Greico can raise your  radar detectors Are tie burglar Loots or drug paraphernalia said Brian o Neill president of the insurance a Stille for Highway safely a research Armol the insurance Industry in Washington. They May he it s a fallacy that everyone who owns a radar Detector is out there speeding. Many tickets Are Given by mistake and people need to have a defense radar Detector Industry. Grosses about �350 million a year Many tickets Are Given by mistake she said and people need to have a  Leo and other lobbyists have been on the winning Side of the argument. In the last decade More than 130 Bills that would outlaw radar detectors have been introduced in Many slate Legislatures. But Only Connecticut Virginia and the Dis Ricl of Columbia have declared them illegal Cico is the huh largest  no Anca issuer in the United slates Wilh i 5 . On  the Pio Detector lobby groups fear Tiit is company s position might Ripple in Roufeh the insurance Industry. No other insurance companies have announced plans to deny policies but Al Stalc. The Mcmond la Gest insurer of automobiles in the country acc Cully issued a statement opposing radar til colors the National Highway Traelic Sally Dammis Falion is studying Iho elect of radar detectors on i gallic safety. To Oiler discounts on premiums when people Are Safe Drivers and when they have air  a i said Why should t we penalize them for unsafe practices lawfully sold but they Are used for unlawful purposes in essence the debate comes Down to numbers Alegi pointed to a Maryland slate Posca study showing that the three percent of cars Gulf filed Wilh radar detectors accounted Lor 33 percent of Iho tickets issued in the Sale from july 1935 i Hough May 1986 according to statistics from Iho National safety Council Iho ask Oldt Al in an Accident doubles Lor every 10 Milts of Speed Over 55 while Many who Lavor detectors an T mat Drivers  use them lend to Speed. The  that this docs nol of narc if c Drivers threatening Bruce c Fier Cano a Maryland Loti list Wio  hired by Rudat. Cited a study  Fly the Lade group Hal concluded that Trio to West Accident Rale occurred among cars going Al the average Speed and 5 to 10 Mph above the Accra be tipped the average Speed Bereano said 15 5 to 10 Mph above the established Speed limit we have developed a Speed regulation a Stem Hal is nol appropriate Many people believe this and n is one of the reasons that radar detectors have a lot of supporters Friday february 19, 1938 the stars and stripes Page 13