Still No Radar For Local Police

A proposal to give local police a standard tool to enforce speed limits was defeated this week in Harrisburg.

Only state police are authorized to use radar to determine when an individual is driving at an unsafe speed in Pennsylvania.

State Rep. Steven J. Santarsiero, D-Bucks, wants to change that law, but said his efforts  to help local police keep Pennsylvania roads safe were thwarted by House Republicans earlier this week.

During a House debate on a bill that would make texting while driving a crime, Santarsiero offered an amendment that would let local police use radar when enforcing speed limits on local roads, according to a release from his office.

The Republicans defeated the amendment using a procedural motion made by Rep. Kathy Watson, R-Bucks, the release states. In her argument, Watson claimed that the amendment had nothing to do with traffic safety and should be ruled not germane. 

"The Republican defeat of my amendment is greatly disappointing," Santarsiero said. "My amendment considers the protective interests of Pennsylvania citizens. Forty-nine other states already allow their local police to use radar. It's high time that we give local police departments the ability to use radar to calm traffic and protect citizens. Unfortunately, the Republicans thought differently."

Santarsiero said local police have long requested the use of radar to help make neighborhoods safer.

The tool would also provide greater efficiency to police departments, he said.

Earlier this year, Santarsiero introduced a bill (H.B. 1475) to accomplish those tasks.

"Today's amendment mirrored that bill," the release states. "The measure would allow radar use by full-time local officers who are employed by full-service police departments in first-, second-, second-A and third-class counties and who have undergone training that has been approved by both the Pennsylvania State Police and the Municipal Officers’ Education and Training Commission."

Under the bill, each local governing body would adopt an ordinance before the use of such devices and signs must be erected 500 feet outside the boundary of a political subdivision to notify motorists of the use of radar.

According to Norristown Police Chief Russel Bono, the would be interested in having radar capability, and rejected the idea that local law enforcement aren't qualified to use the equipment or would use it as purely to generate revenue.

"I think it would be an added benefit to local police to be able to use radar," said Bono. "I don't believe the assertion that it would be abused by local police. We're just as qualified as the state police."

He also noted that the lack of radar isn't so much a concern in Norristown since NPD is already using speed-timing devices to catch lead-footed drivers, though those devices are slightly more difficult to work with and require repeated calibration.

Although Republicans opposed the amendment, Santarsiero said he will keep working to see the measure enacted.