Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that does not allow local police departments to use radar for the purpose of speed enforcement. In 2009 Pennsylvania suffered 32,669 speed-related car crashes, 538 of them fatal. According to the PennDOT Crash Facts & Statistics Report, these crash and fatality rates are higher than PAʼs rates of alcohol, careless, and distracted driver accidents combined.
HB 1041 and SB 526, both introduced this session, are similar bills that would allow accredited local police departments to use radar in speed enforcement.
Every year hundreds of motorists are killed in speeding-related accidents. Radar is a proven, effective law enforcement tool to stop drivers jeopardizing othersʼ safety by disobeying speed limits. By keeping these tools out of the hands of local police departments, law enforcement offices are limited in the tools that they have available to promote safe streets.
HB 1041 and SB 526 will make our communities safer by empowering local police departments to use a tool the Pennsylvania State Police have been using effectively since 1961. These bills will improve the safety of pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists, and all others interacting with roadways patrolled by local police enforcement agencies.
I agree 110%….allowing municipal police to use radar will make the communities much safer. speeding is dangerous, but it is clearly more dangerous in residential communities than on limited access highways. people complain that allowing local cops to use radar is a money grabber for the towns, but that is very untrue. most traffic fines are $25…but add all the state’s costs (mcare, jnet, magistrate costs) the typical ticket is around $100. Speeing tickets vary by speed driven and the base fine is more than $25. so say someone is going 20mph over the speed limit. the total fine may be $150. The actual speeing fine may only be $60, but with all the states costs added, the total goes up to $150. So how much does the town get???? half of the infraction fine. so half of $60 is $30…that is what the town would get. but don’t forget, the officer is not out on patrol for free….he is getting paid. and if someone fights a ticket the officer is not at court for free. so where is the town making money????they car losing money. and for any doubting thomases out there, if local cops get radar, if you don’t speed, you won’t have to worry about getting a ticket.
Why not -revenue raising cops will be in their glory. It stinks…and radar guns cause cancer imo, like cell phones are suspected of. People drive, some die, thats life…grow up
Worried about cops increasing revenue but concerned for safety of persons….why don’t the illustrious lawmakers decrease the fines but raise the points for speeding.
This is a bad idea, just another toy to be used to badger people. Instead, have the police focus on the more heinous crimes being committed within their respective jurisdiction to ensure for the protection of their citizens. And, if it is found that they have a number of officers with little to do since crime is low, consider reducing the force number to match the crime statistics of the jurisdiction and give the taxpayers a break. After all, when was the police department given the additional mission of raising funds? How about running a lean municipality, focused on the good of its citizens, and then charge them for the service through fair taxation – not a penny more? Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad we have a police force in place to protect and serve its citizens, but don’t think we need to provide them with more toys to justify a bogus existence (i.e. writing traffic tickets all day) and to bilk more money out of its citizens.
I’m not sure where most of you posters live, but here in the Stroudsburg Area Regional Police Department, covering three communities and 39 square miles with 49 officers. Only a fraction of them — 5 — are out on patrol at any given time. Traditional speed testing methods require two officers/vehicles, all but eliminating any possible hope of deploying speed checks. Radar would allow any of the 5 active officers to alternate patrol with stationed speed checks, at can respond to a call immediately with no breakdown of equipment. While there are worse crimes than speeding, speeding is extremely rampant here — drag racing on collector streets, speeding in residential neighborhoods, etc. I grew up in norther New Jersey and respect for the posted speed limit was ingrained: ignore it and don’t be surprised if you see flashing lights behind you. As far as the “grace” area, well there would be PLENTY of folks doing 10, 15, even 25 miles over the posted limit here, so I have no concerns about people getting ticked for 3 mph over the limit. The police need to be reasonable too.