The WA Government's latest push to ban radar detectors is facing a backlash amid warnings proposed changes to road traffic laws would give authorities sweeping new powers to ban a wide range of devices in vehicles.

Key points: The proposed laws allow police to prohibit any device from vehicles

The proposed laws allow police to prohibit any device from vehicles WA has repeatedly attempted to ban radar detectors without success

WA has repeatedly attempted to ban radar detectors without success The Police Minister says the state needs to keep up with new technology

The proposed legislation would also give officers the power to ban any other devices either from being attached to a car or used within a vehicle, with no restrictions on what those prohibited "devices" could include.

It has led to warnings from driving groups that the powers could also be used to ban a vast array of technology, such as mobile phone apps that warn users of speed cameras.

Those changes could be made without the prior approval of State Parliament, although Upper House MPs would be able to veto them subsequently.

Police Minister Michelle Roberts has promised the powers would be used responsibly, but said they were necessary to ensure the proposed radar detector ban could keep up with emerging technology.

Advocates say the ban could be extended to include driving and navigation apps. ( AP: Seth Wenig )

But Glenn Secco from the Australian Drivers Rights Association, who has contacted most Upper House MPs encouraging them to block the Government's plans, said the proposal was legislation by stealth.

"This legislation could affect all drivers by granting the power to WA Police and Office of Road Safety to decide what devices on vehicles could be banned in WA," he said.

"This bypasses the usual legislative scrutiny."

The bill is currently before the Upper House, with a final vote on it expected at some point this year.

Phone apps, cameras could be banned, MP says

Liberal Democrats MP Aaron Stonehouse, who opposes a radar detector ban, is seeking support from parliamentary colleagues to have the legislation scaled back.

WA is the only state where speed camera detectors in cars are not banned. ( WA Police )

"These are broad powers that would allow them to ban basically any device they like," he said.

"They could ban bull bars, cameras on motorcycles, using a phone as a GPS device."

But Ms Roberts hosed down suggestions the power would be used broadly, labelling those claims a "phoney opposition" to a radar detector ban.

"Anyone that is opposed to this regulation-making power is just trying to appease those people who for decades have wanted to keep a radar detector in their car," she said.

"They are trying to curry some favour with people who want to be able to speed and get away with it.

"Every other state has done this [banned radar detectors], so this is something that is long overdue."

WA lags other states

While Upper House MPs could overturn regulations made under powers like those proposed for the radar detector ban, successful disallowances were relatively rare.

The legislation is the latest attempt to ban radar detectors in WA, a measure that has been repeatedly proposed but never implemented.

WA is the only state in Australia that still allows radar detectors in cars. ( Flickr: mtneer_man )

Plans to outlaw the devices first emerged three decades ago but have never eventuated.

WA is the only state in the country yet to ban radar detectors, but jammers, which are designed to interfere with speed cameras, were banned in 2017.

Ms Roberts said she would only push ahead with a radar detector ban if she could get assurances from the Opposition they would not seek to overturn it in the Upper House.