PA Local LEOs and RADAR

[pgb2]

Here's the latest bill currently in committee: http://www.legis.state.pa.us/CFDOCS/...r=0296&pn=0824

If the bill passes through the transportation committee, it may go on the floor of the state legislature and be voted on before the end of session this summer.

It is very similar to what was proposed a few years ago, basically a pilot program with only a limited number of municipalities that'll be permitted.

The bill does specifically list LIDAR as an approved speed detection device in the state as well.

[proudNMAmember]

Wow!

[SpeedingVolvo]

No good can come of this bill...

This looks interesting:

"Whenever radio-microwave speed timing devices or
infrared laser light devices are used by a local or regional
police officer of a political subdivision authorized under
subsection (c), the police officer must locate the vehicle
with the radio-microwave speed timing device or infrared
laser light device in a location that is not intentionally
concealed from the motoring public."

Yeah right... I'm sure police officers are going to interpret this
differently. Why would they want to use radar if they can't hide?

[pgb2]

Yeah right... I'm sure police officers are going to interpret this
differently. Why would they want to use radar if they can't hide?

Historically, PA government has been concerned about speed detection devices used as revenue generators, at least by local police. That's why "electronice devices" have never been authorized for local LEO use. There have been some examples of abuse by a few small municipalities with VASCAR over the years, though. Anyway, I think the section you quoted is an attempt at avoiding the stigma of a "speed trap."

Other sections of this bill require that the few local departments that will be part of this "trial" report regularly to PSP on their activities:

Excess revenues.--The primary use of radar or LIDAR by
local or regional police officers of political subdivisions
authorized under subsection (c) is for traffic safety purposes.
Each local or regional police department that uses radar or
LIDAR shall report annually to the Pennsylvania State Police the
municipal revenue generated from speed enforcement citations on
such forms as may be prescribed by the Pennsylvania State
Police. In the event the municipal share of revenue generated
from speed enforcement citations exceeds 5% of the total
municipal budget or 5% of the regional police department budget,
all sums in excess thereof shall be remitted to the Pennsylvania
State Police to be used for traffic safety purposes.

[SpeedingVolvo]

This bill doesn't look terrible.

I'm just worried that it will have a slippery slope effect. Maybe 10 years from now all LEOs will have full power to use stationary and moving radar.

Then I'd be toast.

[pgb2]

I'm just worried that it will have a slippery slope effect. Maybe 10 years from now all LEOs will have full power to use stationary and moving radar.

Sadly, I think that's inevitible, whether it starts soon or whenever a bill makes it through. We've been lucky all these years but it's unreasonable to think it will continue forever, at least as far as locals having access to RADAR. It's possible moving RADAR may never be used in PA, though. That would be nice, at least. :wink:

[BigJohnStudd2]

They can try to sweeten the deal with the "no more than 5% revenue" garbage, but we all know that provision would be ignored the day after *if* and when this bill becomes law!

It's bad enough that we have the absolute worst speed trap state just to our west, now there's a chance that it could happen here too? If this bill passes, then God help us all!!!! :shock:

[GET 1T DONE]

If this bill passes, then God help us all!!!! :shock:

Hahaha... man you are a spoiled whiner.

[proudNMAmember]

Then you'd have to deal w/ what we deal w/ SpeedingVolvo on a near daily basis.

[beefcake]

As I posted in another post, There are 3 bills currently in state senate that are up for vote. 2 of them have passed the transportation committee so far. The current bills would allow all local police departments to use radar as speed determit and to cut back on "road rage incidents".
2 of the bills have great support from the Pa Police Chief's Assoc. and the lobbyists are working heavily for it.
There are trying to pass a bill before summer break. So we should find out soon. I know that they are trying to combine atlest 2 of the bills into one. There are 6 rep's from the western part of the state that at totally against any local's having radar.
The Police Chief Assoc. is stating that VASCAR is too old and out date technology and can be easily defeated by people who go to court. the state that since there is a human element involved in VASCAR, that it makes people who are caught speeding, able to fight and win against the ticket that the got for speeding.