---
title: "British BMW Driver Gets 3 Months in Jail For Using Laser Jammer"
description: "Michael Twizell, 58, was also fined the equivalent of $1,900."
date: "2019-02-12"
modified: "2019-02-12"
authors:
  - name: "Chris Tsui"
    job_title: "Contributor"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/chris-tsui"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/26463/british-bmw-driver-gets-3-months-in-jail-for-using-laser-jammer"
categories:
  - "BMW News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "BMW"
  - "car crime"
  - "jail"
  - "Laser Jammers"
  - "speeding"
  - "United Kingdom"
---

# British BMW Driver Gets 3 Months in Jail For Using Laser Jammer

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2019/02/bmw_day2-10-e1549991363391.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

Boy, the British authorities really don't like laser jammers. Michael Twizell, a 58-year-old West Yorkshire businessman, was sentenced to three months in jail on Monday for fitting a laser jammer to his BMW 3 Series that blocks signals from [police equipment](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/21681/how-does-police-lidar-work>) used to measure an oncoming car's speed, according to North Yorkshire Police.

On Feb. 15, 2018, Twizell reportedly drove past a police safety camera van on the A658 near the town of Harrogate in North Yorkshire, England and caused an error code to appear on the cops' device, launching an investigation. It was then found that the front of Twizell's E92 3er featured an illegal aftermarket laser jammer.

https://twitter.com/_/status/1094966332565663747

Twizell pleaded guilty to "perverting the court of justice" and must pay a fine of more than $1,900 on top of the jail time.

After the hearing, traffic constable Andy Forth said, "To use a device which is capable of interfering with police speed measurement is clearly as shown today a very serious matter. Drivers may face a custodial sentence for using such a device in this way."

Forth warns any other motorists with [laser jammers and the like](<https://www.thedrive.com/article/9171/why-radars-detectors-matter-more-than-ever>) to remove them from their cars or risk heavy consequences. "North Yorkshire Police will continue to Investigate similar allegations when people use these devices to interfere with the normal course of justice," said the traffic officer. "I advise anyone who may have a similar device fitted to their vehicle to think about the consequences of using such a device and strongly recommend that they remove it from their vehicle to avoid future prosecution."

![message-editor%2F1549992015526-3-1-e1549893762550.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1549992015526-3-1-e1549893762550.jpg>)
*North Yorkshire Police*

![message-editor%2F1549992018042-front-transponder-300x225.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1549992018042-front-transponder-300x225.jpg>)
*North Yorkshire Police*

![message-editor%2F1549992020876-laser-elite-e1549893968253.jpg](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/message-editor/1549992020876-laser-elite-e1549893968253.jpg>)
*North Yorkshire Police*

Last April, [another British man was sentenced to eight months behind bars](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/20365/british-man-gets-8-months-in-jail-for-using-laser-jammer-flicking-off-speed-camera>) for not only having a laser jammer fitted to his Range Rover but also repeatedly giving speed cameras the one-fingered salute.

https://twitter.com/_/status/988437884435861509

A card-carrying member of [r/madlads](<https://www.reddit.com/r/madlads/>) if I ever saw one.

## Author
Chris Tsui is *The Drive*'s former Reviews Editor and current freelance automotive journalist. He's based in Toronto.

### Author social links  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/cltsuii/>)