Pennsylvania is the only state in the nation does not allow municipal police departments to use radar to enforce speed limits.

But there’s a move in Harrisburg to change that.

The state House of Representatives is considering a bill that would allow municipal police departments to use radar. It also would give state police the ability to use radar while moving, rather than just while stopped along a road.

State Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland County, is the prime sponsor of the bill, and he thinks that municipal police should be able to use radar, just as they can use a gun and handcuffs.

It’s a common-sense approach to try to save lives on our roads by getting people to slow down.

Rothman’s bill unanimously passed the state House Transportation Committee in late March.

Past attempts at similar bills have failed in the Legislature, and some who had opposed prior legislation on the radar matter now support it, according to Rothman.

The new bill addresses some of the speed bumps that have stalled previous legislation.

It has these new restrictions including: Municipal police must be stationary while clocking speeds, and revenue from speeding tickets cannot exceed more than 10 percent of the municipality’s annual budget.

You can find reports of many accidents involving excessive speed — some serious — daily in the Butler Eagle’s police reports.

Scott L. Bohn, executive director of the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, argues that the state could have saved as many as 1,933 lives between 2011 and 2017 if municipal police could have used radar.

And although the bill would be a boost to municipal budgets, it’s primary focus should be on saving lives and keeping our roads safe for all, not making money off fines.

We urge passage of Rothman’s bill when it comes up for a full House vote later this legislative session.

— JGG