Police support law calling for radar
But he cannot do that without involving the three other members of the traffic unit, who perform a variety of duties in addition to enforcing speed limits.
'If you take the traffic unit out of service for a speed detail, the patrol unit must pick up the other traffic calls,' said Harvey, who heads the Monroeville Police Department's traffic division.
Monroeville police use various means to enforce speed limits. Although the stop watches and patrol car's speedometer are accurate measures, Harvey said, using radar would assist the department in responding to the many speeding complaints he receives from residents.
In addition, the use of radar would not require the use of the entire traffic unit.
'We cannot effectively enforce speed because of the way we have to do it,' Harvey said. 'To do it effectively and efficiently, we have to put people out there on overtime.'
Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation that prohibits local police departments from using radar guns to gauge the speed of vehicles.
Over the last decade, legislation changing the state law to allow municipal police to use radar has been introduced in both the House and Senate.
State Rep. Joseph Markosek said bills have been introduced many times over the years but have 'never come up for a vote.' Markosek, a Monroeville Democrat, said the current bill is in the transportation committee.
The bill would permit radar to be used by 'full-time local police officers' who satisfactorily have completed the requirements of the municipal police education and training program and who have been trained in the use of radar in a program approved by the commissioner of the Pennsylvania State Police.
Harvey said local departments would not derive revenue directly under the proposed legislation. Half of the revenue from fines would go to driver's licensing programs and the other half would go to a general fund at the state.
Harvey said local police departments would apply to the fund to get money for public safety items.
'Police want it for obvious reasons,' Markosek said. 'It makes it easier for them to set up traps.'
Markosek said many of his colleagues worry that in areas where small communities abut each other, motorists 'could be nailed three to four times' driving down a stretch of roadway.
Although Markosek is confident that police 'would handle radar responsibly,' the legislator 'has not lobbied against it.' On the other hand, Markosek said, he has not been a verbal proponent for radar.
'I have mixed feelings at this point,' Markosek said.
The legislator predicted the bill would not pass if it came up for a vote.
The Murrysville Council last November adopted a resolution supporting police Chief Tom Fitzgerald's desire to use radar. Fitzgerald said he requested the resolution because of residents' worries about speeding.
West Mifflin police Chief Frank Diener said radar is an 'excellent law enforcement tool,' and he would welcome it.
'There is less chance of error (with radar) as long as the machine is calibrated correctly,' said Diener.
Diener said West Mifflin police now use VASCAR.
VASCAR stands for 'vehicle average speed calibrated and recorded.' With VASCAR, an officer has to activate a timing device when a car's front bumper reaches the first and second lines spaced on the road according to the posted speed limit.
Diener said radar would work well on speed details in neighborhoods.
'Radar is a logical step forward,' Diener said. 'It is easier to time people on the side streets. The most (speeding) complaints we get are generally in neighborhoods.'
Harvey concurred with Diener about speeding complaints on neighborhood streets.
Harvey said during the spring and summer months, he receives 10 to 12 complaints a week about speeding motorists on a variety of residential streets including Monroeville Boulevard, James Street, Saunders Station Road, College Park Drive, Garden City Drive and Center Road.
The Pennsylvania State Police supports the use of radar by full-time police officers employed by full-time police departments.
Harvey received a letter of support from Capt. Richard A. Stein, director of the patrol services division with the state police.
'Proposed amendments...are a positive step in recognizing that all police departments are ultimately working toward the same goal,' Stein wrote.
Harvey said conceivably, he could use a radar, at a cost of about $2,300 a unit, on his own.
'There is no pursuit,' said Harvey. 'It's not only a safer enforcement, it is a more accurate enforcement.'
Harvey said he wants local departments to be able to use radar to ultimately stop speeding.
'The goal is to slow them (motorists) down,' said Harvey. 'I don't care if I ever write a citation.'
Karen Zapf can be reached at kzapf@tribweb.com or (412) 380-8522.
