Mike:

Fortunately, in PA, those Barney Fife PD's aren't allowed to use
radar. Title 75 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes
(Annotated), better known as the Pennsylvania Motor Vehicle Code
spells it out in section 3368.

(a) Speedometers authorized.--The rate of speed of any vehicle may be
timed on any highway by a police officer using a motor vehicle
equipped with a speedometer. In ascertaining the speed of a vehicle by
the use of a speedometer, the speed shall be timed for a distance of
not less than three-tenths of a mile.

(c) Mechanical, electrical and electronic devices authorized.--

(1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, the rate of speed of
any vehicle may be timed on any highway by a police officer using a
mechanical or electrical speed timing device.

**(2) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (3), electronic
devices such as radio-microwave devices (commonly referred to as
electronic speed meters or radar) may be used only by members of the
Pennsylvania State Police.

(3) Electronic devices which calculate speed by measuring elapsed time
between measured road surface points by using two sensors and devices
which measure and calculate the average speed of a vehicle between any
two points may be used by any police officer.

(4) No person may be convicted upon evidence obtained through the use
of devices authorized by paragraphs (2) and (3) unless the speed
recorded is six or more miles per hour in excess of the legal speed
limit. Furthermore, no person may be convicted upon evidence obtained
through the use of devices authorized by paragraph (3) in an area
where the legal speed limit is less than 55 miles per hour if the
speed recorded is less than ten miles per hour in excess of the legal
speed limit. This paragraph shall not apply to evidence obtained
through the use of devices authorized by paragraph (2) or (3) within a
school zone or an active work zone.

(e) Distance requirements for use of mechanical, electrical and
electronic devices.--Mechanical, electrical or electronic devices may
not be used to time the rate of speed of vehicles within 500 feet
after a speed limit sign indicating a decrease of speed. This
limitation on the use of speed timing devices shall not apply to speed
limit signs indicating school zones, bridge and elevated structure
speed limits, hazardous grade speed limits and work zone speed limits.

http://www.dmv.state.pa.us/pdotforms/vehicle_code/chapter33.pdf

Bill Stephens
Sellersville, Bucks County
(where the speed limit on old 309 drops from 55 to 25 at the bottom of
a hill - and the Perkasie police, who patrol Sellersville, sit
regularly)

P.S.: I spotted a white '68 Sport Wagon today in North Wales
(Montgomery County). It was a beautiful white 2-seater with tan
interior, no woodgrain, PA purple antique plates. The shop owner
where it was sitting told me that the guy was about to sell it - and
was asking $6K for it. I left my contact info.

On Thu, Jul 9, 2009 at 9:56 AM, Mike Israel<amphicar770@...> wrote:
>
>
> At least in PA, 80% of speed traps are on rural roads in the middle of
> nowhere at points where the speed limit suddenly, and for no fathomable
> reason, drops to somewhere between 25-35.  Most of these are run by the
> local Barney Fife PD's.  You will often see 5-6 cars pulled over all at
> once.  Of course they label these efforts with names like "Smooth Operator"
> and claim they have nothing to do with generating revenue but are all about
> public safety.   It is like anything else in politics, just follow the money
> trail.
>
>
>
>
>
>



--
You're never a loser when you and your car are both Vista Cruisers!