Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Senate OKs Bill To Let Local Police Enforce Speed With Radar

Nell Redmond
/
AP
North Carolina Highway Patrol Sgt. Stuart Mitchel uses a radar gun to track the speed of cars on Interstate 85 in Charlotte, N.C., Monday, July 25, 2005. Police in Pennsylvania municipalities can now use the radar guns to monitor traffic.

For a second straight year, the Pennsylvania Senate is advancing legislation to permit Pennsylvania's municipal police departments to use radar to catch speeders.

The bill passed the Senate on Tuesday, 46-3, and heads to the House. A similar bill died in the House last year.

Under the bill, trained police officers could use radar or infrared laser light devices to catch speeders. Currently, only the Pennsylvania State Police are allowed to use such devices in the state.

Sen. Randy Vulakovich of Allegheny County says Pennsylvania is the only state that doesn't permit local police to use the devices. A municipality's governing body must authorize its police force to use the devices and post warning signs.

It bars motorists from being convicted if their recorded speed is less than 10 mph over the speed limit.

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.