The Virginian-Pilot
©
RICHMOND
For motorists hankering to zip along the highways unfettered by the heavy hand of law enforcement, this is shaping up to be a very friendly General Assembly session.
Already, the Senate and House of Delegates have voted to raise the speed limit on interstate highways to 70 mph, a measure championed by Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Now a proposal to repeal Virginia's long-standing, unique-in-the-nation ban on radar detectors is advancing through the House.
Del. Joe May's bill, HB674, was approved 11-8 by the House Transportation Committee on Thursday morning and now moves to the House floor. May, R-Leesburg, is the committee chairman.
The ban on radar detectors has been on the books since 1962, and similar laws have been enacted in other states. All but Virginia have repealed them.
"In Virginia, we never rush into things," May told a subcommittee that considered his bill. "This is one of those things that we haven't rushed into, and I think it's time we did."
He said the law has outlived its usefulness and creates an inhospitable climate for visitors passing through the state.
Moreover, May said, "I have never seen any tangible evidence that radar detectors cause an increase in speeding. I think it has the opposite effect: It makes people slow down."
The bill was advanced over the objections of state police, the Virginia Sheriffs' Association and the insurance industry.
"It's a device that's solely manufactured to violate a law," said Del. Charles Carrico, R-Galax, a member of the committee and a former state trooper.
On duty once in the 1990s, Carrico said, he spotted three cars in a row traveling more than 80 mph, and he activated his radar. The lead driver, whose car was equipped with a radar detector, slammed on the brakes and caused a three-car pileup.
Carrico also suggested the measure would benefit drug runners by helping them avoid traffic stops.
Another bill giving motorcyclists a break won a favorable 2-1 vote in a House subcommittee Thursday morning. HB1267, sponsored by Del. Tom Gear, R-Hampton, would lower the fine for not wearing a helmet to $25 with no court costs assessed.
Under present law, violators pay $76, including court costs. If they fight the citation in court, the penalty can rise to $250.
"This bill keeps money in people's pockets," Gear said.
The bill is opposed by state police, the insurance industry and various traffic-safety groups.
Chris LaGow, an insurance lobbyist, called it "a stimulus bill for hospital emergency rooms."
Bill Sizemore, (804) 697-1560, bill.sizemore@pilotonline.com
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radar detector ban
Reception of radar beams broadcast by governmental use should be subject to the Freedom of Information act, Free speech. Users are not emitting radio waves or invading the public domain. It is a violation of our freedoms.
Radar Detector Ban
This is a sad day. The bill to repeal the radar detector ban was voted down in the general assembly...it went down 47-51.
Let keep working to get rid of this ban.
***********stopthebban.org***************
Radar Detector Ban is Illeagle
Radar Detectors are nothing but very simple radio receivers. The FCC rules (Part 15) clearly state that jurisdiction of the Airwaves is the sole purview of the Federal Government. There are many reasons for this, interstate commerce issues being but one. Hence, a state has no jurisdiction over the regulating the airwaves and can not enact or enforce law such law
Myth #1
Myth #1: The Detector Ban Makes Our Roads Safer.
There is absolutely no evidence that Virginia’s ban on radar detectors has any safety benefit. The fact is, our nation’s roads are becoming safer each and every year. The nation’s fatality rates have fallen consistently for almost two decades. Virginia’s fatality rates have also fallen, but not any more dramatically than it has nationwide. Furthermore, the only other jurisdiction that has a radar detector ban, Washington D.C., has had its fatality rate drop at a much slower rate than any state. Between 1985 and 2003 the fatality rate for the entire nation dropped by 40 percent. In D.C. it went down by only 13 percent.
Radar Detector ban
Keeping up with increasingly sophisticated Radar detectors with even more sophisticated Radar detector detectors has doubtless become a progressively more costly business… Which logically nets smaller income (to pay for the program).. It’s almost certainly more fruitful to spend the budgeted dollars on better speed detection equipment and let us drivers have another manly widget in the ‘ol Hot Rod..
Death Toll
Hmmm. Let's raise the speed limit, allow detectors, and decrease any incentive to wear helmuts becuase it will "put more money" in that person's pocket. Let's do it over the objection of law enforcement, insurance companies (who are trying to minimize the cost that is passed on to the rest of us by maimed, mutilated, and dead people from traffic accidents), and various traffic safety groups. Do not be surprised when the death toll rises. Way to go Virginia.
B4 jumping to conclusions
lets first study the number of traffic accidents in neighboring states that allow radar detector usage and see if there is a significant disparity between speeding accidents in Virginia and those states that allow their citizens to use radar detectors. Those who are critical of the use of radar detectors probably own autos that have more than 200 horsepower. Why not nip this in the bud, if we really want to be really safe, and mandate that all vehicles have a governor on them that limits our speed to no more than 55mph? Or how about we just outlaw any vehicle that has more than 30 horsepower? or lets make wheels square so people cant drive that fast? or as one poster mentioned lets require all drivers to wear helmets and bubble wrap and add more rules and regulations. You cannot mandate common sense when will we learn?
Radar Ban
I do hope that this is lifted. It could be benefical for motorist. While traveling thru Fla I had a radar unit in my vehicle which was equip to not only detect radar but the state of Fla highway trucks and emergency vehicles also emit a signal which will warn you if there is a problem ahead instead of running up on it and maybe causing another problem. Yes it has its pro's and con's but all other states is allowing it why not Va. Yes we have a governor now that is taking control. Yes when the unit goes off people do tend to slow down but it it cause a three car pile up .. well that means someone was following to closely or not paying attention.
Have you figured it out yet?
Come on Virginia! Quite acting so stupid. When are you going to wake up? Our Govenor owned by Pat Robertson and the Oil companies will destroy this state! For God sake, the raising of the speed limit benefits who? First the under the table oil rig deal and now this! What part of "The bill is opposed by state police, the insurance industry and various traffic-safety groups." do you NOT get??
how funny
you worry more about a Governor that has a personal relationship with God and you call him a Robertson owned slave. Yet you will deliberately ignore Obama who attended Rev " America deserves the terrorist attacks" Wright's church for 20 years and yet Obama is able to seperate himself from the " indoctrination" that you are not concerned with. Nor are you concerned with Obama who idolized a terrorist- Bill Ayers. Nor are you alarmed by Obama's team who publicly declare their adoration of Mao " slaughterer of 50 million". Yet this doesn't concern you one bit. Its a new Governor who admits he is a Christian that has your panties in a bunch. How funny your concern for a Governor who has been in office less than 30 days and yet we have a socialist Mao worshipping President who causes you no concern.