Weekly Transportation Recap
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April 6, 2018 WEEKLY TRANSPORTATION RECAP IN THIS ISSUE Co-Sponsor Memos Bill Actions Committee Stories PA Bulletin Upcoming Events Session Schedule In the News Co-Sponsor Memos HCO3170 Topper, Jesse(R) Designates a portion of State Route 1001 in Bedford County, as the First Lieutenant Eric Fisher Wood, Jr., Memorial Bridge. HCO3171 Topper, Jesse(R) Designates a portion of State Route 36 in Bedford County, as the Marine Lance Corporal Darrell Magruder Memorial Bridge. Bill Actions HB 892 Murt, Thomas(R) (PN 999) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in miscellaneous provisions, adding an additional fine for distracted driver and establishing the Driver Distraction Awareness Fund into which the fine shall be paid. The fund shall be used solely for an educational program established by the Department of Transportation to alert the public to the new requirements and penalties and to encourage motorists to eliminate distractions in the vehicle as a means of reducing the risk of harm to themselves and others. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 03-16-17 H Filed 03-17-17 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation 04-03-18 H Hearing set for 1:30 p.m., Room 140 Main Capitol, House Transportation -- House Transportation 04-03-18 H Public hearing held in committee House Transportation HB 1608 Ward, Judith(R) (PN 2126) Act designating the bridge carrying U.S. Route 22 over the Juniata River, Norfolk Southern Corporation rail tracks and State Route 1010 (Penn Street) in Smithfield and Henderson Townships, Huntingdon County, as the Trooper Landon E. Weaver Memorial Bridge. Effective in 60 days. Bill History: 01-24-18 H Signed in the House 01-24-18 S Signed in the Senate 01-24-18 G In the hands of the Governor 02-01-18 G Approved by the Governor (Act: 1) 04-02-18 G Earliest effective date HB 1684 Brown, Rosemary(R) (PN 2261) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in licensing of drivers, prohibiting calls on hand-held mobile telephones while operating a vehicle, except with the use of hands-free accessories. Stipulates that no one under the age of 18 years can use any hand-held PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2018 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com April 6, 2018 telephone while operating a moving vehicle. Provides for exemptions, and schedule of penalties for violations. Effective in 180 days. Bill History: 07-26-17 H Filed 07-27-17 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation 04-03-18 H Hearing set for 1:30 p.m., Room 140 Main Capitol, House Transportation -- House Transportation 04-03-18 H Public hearing held in committee House Transportation HB 2148 Rothman, Greg(R) (PN 3184) Amends Titles 44 (Law & Justice) and 75 (Vehicles) establishing a six-year pilot program for accredited municipal and regional police to use radar as a speed timing device. Limits the use to only fulltime police officers and provides for defense against prosecution if being used to generate revenue. Requires annual progress reports from municipalities to the Department of Transportation and requires the department to make an annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits agencies from imposing quotas on the issues of citations for certain offenses. Effective in 120 days. Bill History: 03-16-18 H Filed 03-16-18 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation 04-04-18 H Discussed during public hearing, House Transportation -- House Transportation HB 2221 Causer, Martin(R) (PN 3253) An act designating a portion of Pennsylvania Route 44 in Potter County as Highway to the Stars. Bill History: 04-03-18 H Filed 04-04-18 H Introduced and referred to committee on House Transportation SB 251 Vulakovich, Randy(R) (PN 1316) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in rules of the road in general, further providing for speed timing devices by allowing the use of electronic speed meters or radar devices, including LIDAR, by any police officer in the Commonwealth upon completion of a training course approved by the Pennsylvania State Police and MPOETC. Requires periodic testing for accuracy of all devices. Stipulates political subdivisions must adopt an ordinance authorizing employ of such devices before they may be used by law enforcement and requires a 90-day written warning period when first implementing them. Also provides no person may be convicted upon evidence obtained through the use of an authorized device if the speed recorded is less than ten miles per hour in excess of the legal speed limit. Outlines rules governing use of excess revenues and responsibilities of the Department of Revenue. Effective in 120 days. (Prior Printer Number: 231, 300) Bill History: 11-14-17 Laid out for discussion 3:17pm 11-14-17 Third consideration 3:18pm 11-14-17 S Final Passage (Vote: Y: 46/N: 3) 11-16-17 H Received in the House and referred to House Transportation 04-04-18 H Discussed during public hearing, House Transportation -- House Transportation PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2018 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com April 6, 2018 Committee Stories House Transportation Committee 4/4/18, 10:00 a.m., 140 Main Capitol By Jessica Richardson and Nicole Trayer, Pennsylvania Legislative Services The committee held a public hearing on radar legislation. HB 2148 Rothman, Greg - (PN 3184) Amends Titles 44 (Law & Justice) and 75 (Vehicles) establishing a six-year pilot program for accredited municipal and regional police to use radar as a speed timing device. Limits the use to only fulltime police officers and provides for defense against prosecution if being used to generate revenue. Requires annual progress reports from municipalities to the Department of Transportation and requires the department to make an annual report to the General Assembly. Prohibits agencies from imposing quotas on the issues of citations for certain offenses. Effective in 120 days. SB 251 Vulakovich, Randy - (PN 1316) Amends Title 75 (Vehicles), in rules of the road in general, further providing for speed timing devices by allowing the use of electronic speed meters or radar devices, including LIDAR, by any police officer in the Commonwealth upon completion of a training course approved by the Pennsylvania State Police and MPOETC. Requires periodic testing for accuracy of all devices. Stipulates political subdivisions must adopt an ordinance authorizing employ of such devices before they may be used by law enforcement and requires a 90-day written warning period when first implementing them. Also provides no person may be convicted upon evidence obtained through the use of an authorized device if the speed recorded is less than ten miles per hour in excess of the legal speed limit. Outlines rules governing use of excess revenues and responsibilities of the Department of Revenue. Effective in 120 days. (Prior Printer Number: 231, 300) Chairman Taylor began that the issue has been around as long as he has been a member so it is not an easy issue but is one the committee is going to take up in the two bills they see today. He stated they have red light cameras in the city of Philadelphia that no one can dispute that they work, so if this provides another measure of safety and gains confidence of communities in which its used, then he is all for it. Chairman Keller added he has no set opinion so the hearing will help them understand more. Rep. Greg Rothman (R-Cumberland) commented it has been a mystery why they give local police officers all other tools that exist today yet they do not give them the ability to use radar. He stated 35,000 people are killed on highways every year and speed is a huge cause. Rep. Rothman said the use of radar will be a deterrent and change the way people drive. He explained HB 2148 allows radar to be used only by full-time municipal police officers, requires training every three years, provides for a defense against prosecution if believe it has been used for revenue, restricts it to only one percent of revenue for municipal budget, gives no points for tickets, requires radar signs on the roads, and the speed limit must be certified by traffic studies. Rep. Rothman added he does support SB 251, but is trying to come up with a compromise. Rep. Kortz inquired why it is restricted to full-time police. Rep. Rothman stated he is not sure of the rationale behind it but that was one of the objections. Rep. Kortz asked if he is aware of any law that has a full-time versus part-time police. Rep. Rothman replied it is not a law but the use of a device. He said it does not change any law about speed but gives an additional tool. Rep. Kortz inquired what the cost is for the road studies. Rep. Rothman stated he did not know. Rep. Heffley suggested he look at what a part-time officer would be because there are part-time police officers in one municipality who could be full-time in another. Rep. Neilson questioned the reasoning behind no points. Rep. Rothman replied it was one of the objections to using radar. He stated there will be a fine but the points are an additional punishment. Rep. Neilson asked where the rest of the money goes to and if the one percent to municipalities is limited. Rep. Rothman it is a deterrent to have the abuse of speed traps to generate revenue. Rep. Neilson suggested putting something in that would dump the money elsewhere. Beth Readler, director of policy and legislative affairs, Pennsylvania State Police (PSP), explained RADAR (Radio Detecting and Ranging) and LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) are two common tools available to the nation's law PLS’s Transportation Recap – Copyright 2018 – Pennsylvania Legislative Services – www.mypls.com April 6, 2018 enforcement officers to attempt to prevent deaths and serious injuries caused by traffic crashes resulting from excessive speed.