Local police departments may be able to use RADAR and LIDAR to catch speeders in their jurisdictions.

Rep. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland, has introduced House Bill 606 to authorize local police to use technology to enforce speed limits. Currently, the state Vehicle Code limits the use of speed timing devices for local police while the Pennsylvania State Police is the only agency in the state allowed to use radar.

Rothman proposes to allow both part-time and full-time police departments to use radar and LIDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging. LIDAR is a laser-based method of detection, range finding and mapping that typically uses a low-power, eye-safe pulsing laser working in conjunction with a camera. One of its best-known applications is measuring the speed of a target, for example in police speed guns.

Municipalities would have to pass an ordinance authorizing their use, install signs stating the technology is being used inside the municipality’s borders and have police officers complete a training course before the technology is used.

Radar and LIDAR could only be used if an officer is in or next to a clearly marked law enforcement vehicle. Rothman also has attempted to keep local governments from using the technology as a money grab by stating in the legislation the municipal share of revenue collected from fines can not exceed 10% of the municipality’s budget for the previous budget yet.

Lastly, if the legislation is approved, drivers would be given a 90 day period of written warnings for tickets written based on radar or LIDAR.

“My proposed legislation strikes the appropriate balance between speed enforcement, which will make our roads safer, and concerns regarding the authorization being used as a revenue-generating option for municipalities,” Rothman wrote in his legislative memorandum.

The legislation was referred Wednesday to the House Transportation Committee.