Direct answers on 392.71A radar detector violations: OOS rates, citations, co-occurring violations, and state enforcement patterns from 13M+ inspections.
Ranks #919 of 3,146 FMCSR codes by citation frequency • OOS rate of 0.0% is below the FMCSR-wide average of 33.3%.
Using or equipping a CMV with radar detector
Direct answers grounded in TruckCodex inspection data
No. A 392.71A citation will not place your truck out of service. Across our inspection records, all 508 citations for this violation resulted in zero out-of-service placements, giving it a 0.0% OOS rate. This is significantly lower than the all-FMCSR average OOS rate of 31.4%, making radar detector violations among the least severe equipment violations in the unsafe driving category.
392.71A ranks #914 of 3,036 FMCSR codes by total citation volume. In the last 12 months, we recorded 271 citations nationwide, with 54 in the last 90 days. Monthly citations have ranged from 1 to 34 over the past year, peaking in February 2026 with 34 citations. This is a low-volume violation that does not show a strong upward trend.
First, have your truck inspected for other violations—our data shows radar detector citations frequently co-occur with inoperable lamps (393.9, 13 shared inspections in 90 days), fatigue violations (392.2RG, 12 shared), and window obstruction issues (393.60D, 10 shared). Second, remove or disable the radar detector immediately to avoid repeat citations. Third, document the removal for your records in case you contest the citation. Fourth, request a DataQs examination if you believe the citation was issued in error—documentation disputes are contested through this process.
Texas leads enforcement with 39 citations in the last 180 days, followed by New Mexico with 34 citations and Iowa with 25 citations. Together, these three states account for a large share of 392.71A enforcement activity. North Carolina (9) and Illinois (8) are distant fourth and fifth. If you operate in Texas or New Mexico, radar detector awareness should be part of your safety briefing.
392.71A is far less severe than comparable unsafe driving violations. While 392.71A has a 0.0% OOS rate, the closely related fatigue violation 392.2 carries a 0.8% OOS rate and has accumulated 1,208,164 all-time citations. Even lower-severity fatigue sub-codes like 392.2-SLLTCD (0.0% OOS) and 392.2-SLLS2 (0.0% OOS) have citation volumes in the tens of thousands. Radar detector violations are rare and non-disqualifying by design.
Yes. You can challenge a 392.71A citation through DataQs, the formal FMCSA process for examining and disputing roadside inspection records. Since radar detector violations are equipment-based findings (presence or absence of a device), contestation focuses on whether an inspector properly identified the equipment and applied the regulation correctly. Gather documentation of removal, any purchase or installation records, and photos for your challenge. DataQs requests are handled by FMCSA within 30 days.
A 392.71A violation applies to both the driver and the carrier. Under FMCSA's CSA system, unsafe driving violations appear in both the driver's record and the carrier's safety profile. This means the citation affects your driving history and your company's safety rating. If you drive for a carrier, notify your safety manager immediately so they can flag the violation in their records and prevent repeat enforcement.
Peterbilt tractors (PTRB) account for 108 of 508 all-time citations, followed by Freightliner (FRHT) with 105 and Utility trailers (UTIL) with 72. Kenworth (KW) and Ford vehicles round out the top five with 60 and 40 citations respectively. These numbers reflect the prevalence of these vehicle types in long-haul fleets where radar detectors are more commonly found and inspected.
Where 392.71A is most commonly cited (last 180 days)
Other violations commonly found on the same inspection (last 90 days)
TruckCodex aggregates official public-sector datasets. See the Source registry for dataset-level coverage and the Freshness log for last-import timestamps.
Census, SAFER, SMS, Licensing & Insurance (L&I), roadside inspections, crashes, and authority history.
Vehicle recall campaigns, defect investigations, and consumer safety complaints (SCRS).
Cross-border carrier registry and Canadian recall campaigns where applicable.
TruckCodex is an independent aggregator; it is not affiliated with FMCSA, NHTSA, EIA, or Transport Canada. Always verify compliance-critical information directly with the originating agency.