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Municipalities push to allow local police to use radar for speed enforcement

  • Scott LaMar
Pennsylvania State troopers pull over vehicles on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Breezewood, Pa.

 Keith Srakocic / AP Photo

Pennsylvania State troopers pull over vehicles on Friday, Sept. 4, 2020, along the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Breezewood, Pa.

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Airdate: Tuesday, March 29, 2022

State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow municipal police departments to use radar to monitor the speed of vehicles traveling through their jurisdictions.

In Pennsylvania, only state troopers can use radar to track how fast a vehicle is moving. Pennsylvania is the only state in the country where local police can’t use radar.

A coalition of municipal and law enforcement organizations want to change that.

Opponents say allowing municipal police to use radar in nothing more than an attempt to generate more revenue for munucipalities through fines and add that set speed limits are artificially low in many areas.

Amy Sturges, Pennsylvania Municipal League and Scott Bohn, Executive Director, Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association support allowing police to use radar and appear on Tuesday’s Smart Talk.

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