Officials build the case for allowing local police to use radar
By Tammie Gitt, The Sentinel, Carlisle, Pa. | |
McClatchy-Tribune Information Services |
Speeding is also a top complaint from residents to police departments.
Despite these factors, the state doesn't allow municipal police to use radar to enforce speed limits. It stands alone in its denial.
"It is absolutely ridiculous that
Officials are optimistic that legislation in the
Pending legislation
House Bill 1272, which would permit local police departments to use radar, has been in the
"There is a bill currently pending in the House and another identical companion bill about to be introduced in the
Rep.
"It's really unfairly handicapping our local police from enforcing public safety," Bloom said. "If we're willing to allow our local police to carry a deadly weapon, which we are, there's no reason not to allow them to use radar."
"There's been a couple of bills out there since 1961," he said. "It's sad that we don't have it, but for some reason legislators don't want to pass it."
"We would see that as a very favorable development if, in fact, legislation was passed," Margeson said.
Local police use what Margeson described as "more cumbersome, more burdensome tools."
Those systems calculate speed as a vehicle moves through a known distance. VASCAR, or visual average speed computer and recorder, requires manual timing between two premeasured, certified points. An excessive speed preventer system involves setting up a system of tubes and timing devices along the road. Newer versions of the system use a laser beam to time a vehicle's trip through a designated area.
"We would certainly be in favor of being able to use -- I can't even say modern -- technology. Radar has been in use for 40 to 50-plus years," Margeson said.
When people think of using radar for speed enforcement, they typically think of main roads. In
"We find people are speeding on all the streets," he said.
Existing speed monitoring and enforcement options require a sight distance of at least one-tenth of a mile between two points, and may need two officers to run, said
Hammon said radar's portability would allow officers to park almost anywhere for even short-term speed enforcement details.
"You can imagine how many places we could do that during a shift," he said.
Funding concerns
Police say that have yet to hear a valid reason for denying them the use of radar.
"There's really no legitimate reason that municipal police officers should not be able to use it," Adams said.
Margeson said the one recurring reason he's heard for denying police the use of radar has been that some municipalities could use radar to generate revenue. He questioned the validity of such an argument, noting that departments could do that now, and there are fairly well-documented cases of some municipalities doing so.
"That's clearly something that is not a concern for us. Our concern is public safety," Margeson said.
Heath said calling the measure a "money-making venture" couldn't be further from the truth.
"It's a public safety issue that deserves strong consideration and adoption," he said.
Police departments don't make money off citations when the costs of committing an officer and a car to a speed detail are considered, Adams said. Even if it did, safeguards could be put into place.
The state, which denies municipal police the ability to use radar, could actually benefit from a change in the law.
The actual fines for speeding comprise only part of the total price a driver pays for a speeding violation, according to a chart available at The Unified Judicial System of
But another
A surcharge ranging from
"We're good enough to collect fees for other projects," Adams said.
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