Bill introduced to allow local law enforcement to use radar (Pittsburgh: 2014, how much)

[gg]

I didn't know PA was the only state that didn't allow local law to use radar. I also didn't know PA was only behind CA and TX in in speeding-related traffic deaths in 2012. Wow!

Police across Pennsylvania make case for using radar guns at the local level - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Weird, I specifically recall an officer with radar busting car after car in Overbrook a few summers ago.

[ElijahAstin]

My understanding was that a lot of local cops didn't want to use radar because they think it causes cancer (I don't know how much truth there is to the claim).

[FreightTrainRunning]

I don't really care what method the police use but I'd love to seem them crack down on speeding around here. Pittsburghers just fly around city streets, I always try to stay close to the limit and people just fly around me or even honk at me for going too slow.

[sparrowmint]

I knew that radar wasn't allowed, but I am more surprised in the article by how low speeding tickets are for speeds under 65. I assume this doesn't apply to speeding in school zones etc, or at least I hope not.

And good, because a crackdown is needed. For all the talk about overcautious drivers around here, there are also a lot of lunatics on the road who drive like they have no value for anyone's lives, including their own. Many of these same people like to tailgate, get aggressive, and rage at people driving the speed limit in the right lane/in single lanes.

[jea6321]

that 17.50 is not the price of a ticket under 65 mph. it is just the amount that the municipality would receive.

[TechCom]

Are LASER range finders also illegal?

[Craziaskowboi]

I actually like the fact that Pennnsylvania doesn't trust its local cops with radar guns. The moment they get radar guns, every little ****hole town that was lucky enough to win the highway lottery will lower their speed limits to stupidly low speeds and start balancing their budgets with ticket revenue, instead of doing so the honest way. Next thing you know, you'll have a bunch of little Barney Fifedoms that survive solely because they got their grubby little hands on a radar gun. **** that stupid ****.

[trackstar13]

Whats next traffic enforcement cameras (speeding and red light) statewide?

State Speed and Red Light Camera Laws

I think the radar idea might make more sense or work if there were less police forces in PA, but with the current municipality, borough, township, etc. system we have in PA, as well as all of the campus and private police forces, I think this could be a recipe for disaster. I am not saying we should decrease the number of police officers in PA or change anything, but with the current structure radar is a scary proposition because revenue starved towns and municipalities may potentially change speed limits and create revenue generating speed traps that do not improve safety. For instance, lower the speed limit and purposefully put a sign near a tree that is hard to see so that people can be pulled over and ticketed.

[Ram8876]

Originally Posted by jea6321

that 17.50 is not the price of a ticket under 65 mph. it is just the amount that the municipality would receive.

The lowest ticket I've ever gotten was $94.50 total. I think the actual fine was $25.