https://local21news.com/news/local/proposed-bill-allows-for-local-police-to-run-radar
Pennsylvania is the ONLY state which does not allow local police to use radar to ticket drivers for excessive speed. Sen. Greg Rothman (R-Mechanicsburg) has proposed a law to change this. Methods currently used by local police, due to a lack of radar, are rather archaic and often require more than one patrol car and multiple police officers.
Adding radar to the tools available will not be a silver bullet to safe streets, but will go a long way as a deterrent to rampant violation of speed limits by cars and trucks. At the same time, if drivers must be more conscious of their speed to avoid a ticket, they will become more engaged drivers and less likely be distracted with activities like texting.
There are some rather thin arguments against joining every other state allowing radar to be used by local police. Still, the proposed law from Sen. Rothman attempts to address these.
Recent resident polling by several municipalities in the North Penn area point to traffic congestion and traffic safety as important quality-of-life issues in need of improvement. In response municipalities are considering additional police staff to focus on traffic control. Would’t it be great if these officers could be empowered with a tool like radar, which as been leveraged by the Pennsylvania State Patrol for decades.
When you consider reasons why the average person is hesitant bicycle on roads vs. trails, excessive speed of cars an trucks is often to to blame. This law should be supported by everyone in the North Penn area who wants a safer environment not only for cyclists and pedesterans, but also for drivers of autos and trucks.
Speed limits are assigned for a reason. It is well overdue for local Pennsylvania police to use radar to bring driving speeds down to where they belong.
Everyone reading this is encouraged to write to the state senators and representatives in support of this law.
PA State Politicians for North Penn
PA State Senate
Districts 12, 24
Senate District 12
(Hatfield Borough, Hatfield Township, Lansdale Borough, Montgomery Township)
Senator Maria Collett
Gwynedd Corporate Center
1180 Welsh Road
Suite 130
North Wales, PA 19454
(215) 368-1429
FAX: (215) 368-2374
Email: [email protected]
Senate Dist. 24
(North Wales Borough, Towamencin Township, Upper Gwynedd)
Senator Tracy Pennycuick
Senate Box 203024
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3024
Room: 16 East Wing
(717) 787-3110
[email protected]
PA State House
61, 53, 151
District 61
(Upper Gwynedd Township, North Wales Borough, Towamencin Township)
Hon. Liz Hanbidge
1098 West Skippack Pike
Blue Bell, PA 19422
(610) 277-3230
Fax: (484) 200-8267
Email: https://www.pahouse.com/61/Contact/
District 53
(Lansdale Borough, Hatfield Township, Hatfield Borough, Montgomery Township)
Hon. Steven R. Malagari
100 West Main Street
Suite 110
Lansdale, PA 19446
(267) 768-3671
Fax: (267) 768-3673
Email: https://www.pahouse.com/53/Contact/
District 151
(Montgomery Township)
Hon. Melissa Cerrato
28A East Wing
P.O. Box 202151
Harrisburg, PA 17120-2151
(717) 772-1999
Fax: (717) 780-6035
Email: https://www.pahouse.com/151/Contact/