The Pennsylvania Senate recently voted to send legislation to the House which would allow local law enforcement agencies, like the State College Police, to use radar guns. Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that does not allow local police departments to use radar.

This issue has been around since I was a police officer in the 70’s. It has finally come around again thanks to the bill’s sponsor Senator Randy Vulakovich from Allegheny County. Vulakovich himself is a former municipal officer.

According to an article in Penn Live one of the reasons the legislation has not passed is that people fear local police will use the radar gun as a money generator. In fact most of the money in traffic fines goes to the state and not the local municipality.

So don’t be surprised when some point in the near future while you are traveling through Bellefonte or Ferguson Township you find yourself getting a ticket with speed checked by radar.