Siptroth backs expanded radar use for speed law enforcement

Bill would enable local police use HaRRISBURG — Pike County state Rep. John Siptroth, joined a bipartisan group of legislators at a Capitol news conference this week to support new legislation that would permit local police to use radar equipment to catch speeding vehicles. Traffic safety is a prime concern for Siptroth, whose Pike and Monroe county district’s roadways have been severely impacted due to the number of people commuting daily on both interstate and connector roads. Siptroth said the legislation (H.B. 1957) would make Pennsylvania consistent with all 49 other states, in which municipal police officers are authorized to use radar to enforce speed limits. Currently, only state police are permitted to use radar to verify a driver’s speed in Pennsylvania. “By blocking municipal officers from using this effective and accurate piece of equipment, current law taxes our state troopers more heavily on an offense that could be handled by municipal police,” Siptroth said. “ “By limiting the use of radar exclusively to the state police, current law also lessens the likelihood that habitual speeders are caught. Allowing more police to have the equipment would serve as a deterrent and save lives -- speeding is a factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes,” he added. The legislation, introduced by Rep. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, and Rep. Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, would permit local police officers to use radar in certain circumstances and with reasonable restrictions. Radar use would be permitted only by full-time local officers who are employed by full-service police departments and who have undergone training that has been approved by both the Pennsylvania State Police and the Municipal Police Officers’ Education and Training Commission. The local governing body would have to adopt an ordinance prior to local radar use in a municipality, and in those areas where local radar is approved, official warnings would be posted to notify motorists.