YOU ASKED - WE LISTENED!

Recently, Officer Alyse Gallagher posed a question in an online forum, seeking input from residents regarding speeding and other traffic concerns in both Manheim and Lancaster Townships.  The response from residents was amazingly high!  Nearly every residential street in Manheim Township was reported!  Officer Gallagher was able to quickly identify these numerous locations where residents frequently observe problems.  This information was turned over to the Patrol Division Commander and as a result of this feedback, has planned for the police department to take the following actions to combat some of these complaints:

- Place electronic speed signs and / or electronic speed trailers at select locations.  This will be done to generate speed awareness and to gain voluntary compliance from motorists that see their speed displayed on the digital sign and reduce speed accordingly.
- Assign officers to perform traffic enforcement details, where citations and / or written warnings will be issued.

Unfortunately, some of the identified locations make the enforcement of speed limits nearly impossible, given the limitations placed on local law enforcement officers.  Pennsylvania is the only state in the United States where municipal police are not authorized to use RADAR to monitor and enforce speeding.  Despite numerous attempts to pass legislation that had bipartisan support as well as endorsements from the Pennsylvania State Police and the PA Chiefs of Police Association, the legislature failed to pass the bill.  This means speeding enforcement, particularly in residential neighborhoods, is far more difficult.  The methods local police are approved to use requires the clocking or timing of vehicles over a greater distance while observing the vehicle the entire time.  Many local residential streets do not have such visibility, are not long enough, or allow the speeding motorist to spy the police officer and reduce the vehicle speed before the clock is completed.  For example, VASCAR experts have determined that police should ideally time a vehicle for at least 4 seconds in order to obtain a fair clock for the motorist.  As such, the Manheim Township Police Department strongly encourages its residents, concerned with speeding in their neighborhoods or residential streets, to contact their legislative representatives, and let them know that they support municipal police being permitted to use the RADAR tool for reducing speeds in their neighborhoods.  As of the publishing of this article, the Pennsylvania state legislature, through their actions, have indicated that they are not in favor of more speed enforcement.

The website for Manheim Township's State Representative Steven Mentzer can be found HERE

The website for Manheim Township's State Senator Scott Martin can be found HERE

MEDIA POST CONTACT: Lieutenant Michael T. Piacentino, W: 717-569-6401 Ext: 1583, C: 717-340-2130, piacentinom@manheimtownshippolice.org