Radar is acknowledged by law enforcement personnel as the safest, most accurate and efficient speed timing device. Despite this fact, Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that does not allow for the local use of radar. As a result, speeding on neighborhood roads is consistently the most common concern voiced by our constituents.
Last year, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration released its 2020 annual traffic crash data. Sadly, over 11, 000 people were killed in speed-related crashes nationwide. Crashes on local roads accounted for 87% of fatalities. Here in Pennsylvania, 1,129 people died in vehicle crashes. Of those fatalities, 459 were speed-related, making up 41% of all traffic fatalities in the Commonwealth. These figures would normally cause concern, but in a year that saw motorists driving significantly less due to the pandemic, it makes these statistics even more troubling. Local use of radar would help to curtail these preventable losses of life.
In addition to the high number of speed-related fatalities, the non-radar speed timing devices and technology used by local police are becoming more and more obsolete. There are only three PennDOT approved non-radar technologies available to municipal police, one being a stop watch. Companies producing these devices are going out of business or ceasing production, as there is very little demand for these products outside of Pennsylvania. Additionally, many non-radar speed timing devices are not compatible with the computer systems in new police vehicle models.
If the General Assembly does not act now, a stop watch may soon be the only speed timing device available to our local police officers. This very unsettling development has and will continue to hinder local law enforcement operations within across the Commonwealth and further endanger public safety.
Senate Bill 509 – introduced by Senator Rothman
General Information
- Allows all municipal police to use radar
- A municipality must adopt an ordinance before using radar
Motorist Protections
- Officers may only enforce speed using radar from a clearly marked vehicle that is visible to those driving
- A minimum of four official signs warning drivers of local police radar enforcement must be installed along the main roads within 500 feet of municipal borders
- Officers would be prohibited from using radar in the immediate area (500 feet) of a sign decreasing the posted speed
Penalties
- Those in violation of a 65 MPH speed limit or higher would be fined $42.50
- Those in violation of any other speed limit would be fined $35
- Anyone exceeding a speed limit over 5 MPH would be fined an additional $2 for each mile more than 5 MPH over the maximum speed limit.
- Those ticketed for speeding would be charged with a summary offense
- Points would not be added to an offender’s license
- A municipality would not be allowed to mandate a quota for speeding citations.
- There would be a warning period for the first 90 days of radar enforcement
Revenue
- Revenue may not exceed 101% of what a municipality received in the prior year
- Revenue exceeding that amount would be remitted to the Motor License Fund
- Upon completing an annual audit, if the Auditor General finds that a municipality kept more revenue than allowed, then PennDOT shall deduct 200 percent of the amount not remitted from the respective municipality’s share of the Motor License Fund.
Senate Bill 542 – introduced by Senator Santarsiero
General Information
- Allows full time police in first, second, second class a, and third class counties to use radar and lidar
- A municipality must adopt an ordinance before using radar
Motorist Protections
- Officers may only enforce speed using radar from a location that is visible to those driving
- Signs warning drivers of local police radar enforcement must be installed along the main roads within 500 feet of municipal borders
Penalties
- Those exceeding a speed limit under 10 MPH may not be given points on their license, those driving 10 MPH over the speed limit may be issued points
- There would be a warning period for the first 90 days of radar enforcement
Revenue
- Revenue may not exceed 5% of the police department’s budget
- Revenue exceeding that amount would be remitted to the Pennsylvania State Police