Small towns often line their coffers by aggressively enforcing local speed limits on state roads, but one of Delaware's top lawmakers wants speed traps stopped.
State Senate President Pro Tempore Tom Sharp introduced a bill to the Delaware General Assembly that would limit the use of radar by local police wishing to catch speeders on state roads. He withdrew the legislation in the face of uncertain support and in hopes of achieving a compromise with its opponents, according to the Associated Press.
Under the proposed legislation, police departments in towns with a population of 20,000 or fewer would need annual approval from the Delaware Secretary of Public Safety before using radar to enforce local speed limits on state highways, such as Route 13 or Delaware Route 1, where it merges with U.S. Route 113 south of Dover. Both are well known for speed traps.
Sharp has argued that small town police departments abuse their powers by setting up speed traps where state roads with 55 mph speed limits suddenly drop to town-posted 25 mph speed limits.
Police chiefs from around the state have lobbied against Sharp's bill, saying it takes too much power away from local governments, but Fenwick Island Police Chief George Dickerson, who heads the police chiefs' association, said he would like to strike a deal with Sharp.
One possible compromise is to allow localities to use radar on state highways, but bar municipalities from receiving the fine payment. Another alternative would be to cap the amount of revenue local towns could generate from speeding tickets issued to speeders on state highways.
State Senate President Pro Tempore Tom Sharp introduced a bill to the Delaware General Assembly that would limit the use of radar by local police wishing to catch speeders on state roads. He withdrew the legislation in the face of uncertain support and in hopes of achieving a compromise with its opponents, according to the Associated Press.
Under the proposed legislation, police departments in towns with a population of 20,000 or fewer would need annual approval from the Delaware Secretary of Public Safety before using radar to enforce local speed limits on state highways, such as Route 13 or Delaware Route 1, where it merges with U.S. Route 113 south of Dover. Both are well known for speed traps.
Sharp has argued that small town police departments abuse their powers by setting up speed traps where state roads with 55 mph speed limits suddenly drop to town-posted 25 mph speed limits.
Police chiefs from around the state have lobbied against Sharp's bill, saying it takes too much power away from local governments, but Fenwick Island Police Chief George Dickerson, who heads the police chiefs' association, said he would like to strike a deal with Sharp.
One possible compromise is to allow localities to use radar on state highways, but bar municipalities from receiving the fine payment. Another alternative would be to cap the amount of revenue local towns could generate from speeding tickets issued to speeders on state highways.
media brand
0 Comments
See all comments