Reader react
Each week, the Observer-Reporter asks Facebook friends to respond to a question about an issue in the news. This week, we asked:
“A bill is in the works in the state Legislature to allow municipal police departments to use radar devices to catch speeding drivers. What are your thoughts on the bill?”
Patrick Cooper As a retired chief of police for 36 years, the last thing you want to do is give local municipal police departments access to radar. It will turn into a circus.
Sharon Kiger Bennett That’s the best bill if passed! So many accidents could be avoided in municipal areas cracked down on the speed limit. More paperwork, I am sure, but the end outweighs the inconvenience of paperwork. Plus it should be revenue for the area.
Josh Kichta What a great idea! Use taxpayers’ money to buy devices and then turn around and turn it in to even more revenue when you fine the taxpayers with the equipment they bought.
Eric McGrosky I am in favor of it. Why as Pennsylvanians are we always last in accepting new ideas? If you are driving the speed limit you have nothing to worry about.
Benjamin Dobkin To the extent that radar is one more tool with which local police can keep the roads safer, it should be utilized.
The technology exists already for local municipalities to measure speed anywhere they want, with or without preinstalled speed timing lines. If the towns were going to abuse the system, they could be (and some would argue that they are) doing that already.
If the legislature is concerned about citations being considered a funding source, like the problems seen in Ferguson, then they can address that with changes to statutes. Reform the fine, costs and surcharge amounts (which are astronomical … $141.50 for a turn signal ticket), or change the allocation of funds from the fines to avoid the potential for abuse.
The solution should not be taking away an otherwise universally acknowledged positive tool for law enforcement.
Robert Lemons If you don’t violate the vehicle code section on maximum speed limits why do you care what method is use to enforce the law. People who complain wouldn’t if somehow people speeding on their street affected them, they had small children, elderly parents, etc. Don’t break the law and you don’t have to worry about it!!
Deb Smith If they use it to nail the speeders then that’s one more tool to use when it’s court time!!! No more getting out of it if radar is used. I am all for it, could save a life or more once it’s used. Maybe they will slow down …
Nicolas Borovich I see both pros and cons. I hate when people drive right behind me when I’m going the speed limit, but I’m also sympathetic to people who might unnecessarily get fined for accidentally driving a little too fast. It would be nice if people could just use common sense to drive at a safe speed on their own.
Richard Denicola I’m for it. (It) should be used in Elizabeth Township. When a sign says 25 miles per hour and people drive 50 to 60 miles per hour, they should lose their license.
Scott Stilwell I would hope that the bill includes a provision for standards of training (for) officers to use the equipment properly and to ensure the equipment is properly maintained.
David Roho No. They already write tickets stating they used radar to clock your speed. Then they throw in the no point citation just to get you to pay. It would get abused. Equipment would never get calibrated. Bad idea.
Donald Swartz No way!!! Just more revenue generation.
Bob Ritscher I think drug-sniffing K9s would be a better investment for the communities.
William Pokol Waste of money in this state with all the pot holes!!!