Bethel Council supports radar for local police
The Bethel Park Municipal Council passed a resolution Jan. 8 supporting PA Senate Bill 251, which grants local police departments the ability to use the same radar speed guns previously only used by State Police.
PA State Senate passed this resolution in Nov. 2017, and the bill is now awaiting approval from the State House Transportation Committee.
Councilman Harrison of the BP Municipal Council expressed his support of this resolution, and believes it is long overdue. In an interview with The Almanac, he said, “We’re the only state that doesn’t allow local police to use radar.”
This new resolution would require all municipal police officers to receive special training in the proper use of the new equipment from the state police. In addition, the municipality will have to pass new ordinances allowing the use of radar technology as well as install signs alerting drivers that local police may use radar technology for speed limit enforcement.
BPHS senior Greydon Tomkowitz is the current Editor-In-Chief of Hawk Eye, a position he has served in for three years.
Greydon joined the newspaper...
James C. Walker • Jan 14, 2018 at 3:37 pm
You would find local radar commonly used ONLY where the posted limit is improperly and less safely set at least 10 mph lower than the safest 85th percentile speed point. Example: If the slowest 85% of the drivers are at or below 45 mph when traffic is free flowing under good conditions, then the safest limit to post for the fewest crashes is 45. You would find local radar commonly used in such a location ONLY if the posted limit were improperly and less safely set at 35 or 30. If set to maximize safety at 45 mph, there would not be enough violators far enough above the safest limit to justify the time and expense to send officers there with radar.
James C. Walker, National Motorists Association
Joe • Jan 12, 2018 at 3:17 pm
Radar makes MANY errors and fails the Daubert Test. Pull up Radargate Revisited to see. Can’t tell which car made the reading, either. Absurdly low speed limits, tickets at 6 mph above them.
Speed limits should be set to the 85th percentile free flowing traffic speed, but they are not. This means more crashes, tickets to safe drivers, and the wrong drivers.
PennDOT’s own data shows that the roads have never been safer. I do have a simple solution. Make ALL tickets only points, no fines or surcharges. See who wants radar then. In the end, money talks and that is 100% of what this is about. Want full compliance, then post PROPER speed limits!
Check out the National Motorists Association and oppose this misguided radar push.