Last week, I received an email from State Representative John Taylor (177th Legislative District), chair of the House Transportation Committee. Here’s what he had to say:
Dear Sarah,
Could you do me a favor? Pennsylvania’s law which legalized red light cameras has a sunset date next year, and it’s very important for the safety of all Pennsylvanians that we don’t allow this important law to go away. Removing the sunset language from the law, or at least extending it 10 years, is critical to the red light camera program in our state. Both current and future programs will be in jeopardy if we don’t get this done.
House Bill 950 has the extension in it and I believe if the Senate votes on the bill, it will go directly to the Governor and he will sign it into law.
Please put the word out on your network to have each person contact their Senator.
Thanks,
State Rep. John Taylor
Red light cameras have been shown to reduce crashes at intersections where they are located by 24 percent. That’s why we’re working with State Rep. Taylor to urge the Senate to adopt House Bill 950 and move it forward so it can be signed into law.
There are two additional important bills pending in the Senate that would enhance speed enforcement:
Speeding accounts for a third of traffic deaths caused by motor vehicle crashes in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth can and must do more. SB 1034 would begin a pilot program to allow photo enforcement cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard. Over a five year period, 51 people died in crashes on the Boulevard, making it a logical place for a pilot program. SB1034 is needed to help save lives and cut down the nearly three thousand crashes that have occurred on the Boulevard over the last five years.
SB 535 would allow local enforcement to use radar technology. Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that doesn’t allow local police departments to use radar.
Will you call your Senator and ask them to support these three bills?
We need people like you to help in the fight for safer, calmer streets in the Philadelphia Region.
Click here to find your Senator.
HB 950 – Extend the Red Light Enforcement Program to the Year 2027
SB1034 – Create a Pilot Program for Photo Cameras on Roosevelt Boulevard
SB 535 – Allow local police to use radar for speed enforcement