12/17/07-A bill in the House that has been put on hold until next year would allow local police to use radar to nab speeders. Only state troopers now are allowed to use radar.
Sponsored by Reps. Bryan Lentz, D-Delaware, and Mike Vereb, R-Montgomery, HB1957 remained in the House Transportation Committee when lawmakers started wrapping up the 2007 regular session. It can be brought back for consideration there during the session that begins Jan. 1.
The bill would permit local, full-time police officers who work for full-service police departments to use radar.
If signed into law, local governments would have the option to adopt an ordinance approving local radar use. Notices would be posted in areas where radar is implemented.
To guard against cities setting up speed traps, the bill would allow fines from speeding to be used entirely to compensate towns for the costs incurred to keep their program running. Additional revenue would be routed to the State Police for “traffic safety purposes.”