BETHEL PARK POLICE TRAFFIC DIVISION

             The Bethel Park Police Traffic Division is responsible for enhancing traffic safety in the community for the residents of Bethel Park and the thousands of motorists who travel through Bethel Park everyday.  Presently, the Traffic Division is staffed by a Traffic Sergeant and two Traffic Patrolmen.  Officers assigned to the Traffic Division have undergone extensive training in PA Motor Vehicle Code enforcement, Advanced Vehicle Collision Investigation,  Traffic Collision Reconstruction, and a whole host of specialized training geared for traffic safety and enforcement.

             In addition to extensive training, Traffic Division officers are equipped with specialized equipment for both collision investigations and speed enforcement.  The Traffic Division has obtained two new pieces of speed enforcement equipment in the forms of ENRADD and V-SPEC.  ENRADD stands for Electric Non RADar Device, which utilizes infrared light to determine vehicle speeds. V-SPEC stands for Vehicle Speed Electronic Calculator, which utilizes a predetermined algorithm to determine vehicle speeds over a given distance.

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                                                        New Texting Laws

The new law specifically does the following:
Makes it a primary offense to use an Interactive Wireless Communication Device (IWCD) to send, read or write a text-based message.
Defines an IWCD as a wireless phone, personal digital assistant, smartphone, portable or mobile computer or similar devices that can be used for texting, instant messaging, emailing or browsing the Internet.
Defines a text-based message as a text message, instant message, email or other written communication composed or received on an IWCD.
Institutes a $50 fine for convictions.
Makes clear that this law supersedes and preempts any local ordinances restricting the use of interactive wireless devices by drivers.
 

Act 81 places increased restrictions on the number and age of passengers which a junior driver license holder may transport. Current law limits drivers under the age of 18 to transporting no more passengers than the number of seat belts in the vehicle.

As of Dec. 27, 2011, for the first six months after receiving their junior driver's license, a driver is not permitted to have more than one passenger under age 18 who is not an immediate family member (brother, sister, stepbrother, stepsister of the junior driver and adopted or foster children living in the same household as the junior driver) in their vehicle unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. If they have not been convicted of a driving violation or been partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash after six months, they may have up to three passengers under age 18 who are not immediate family members without a parent or legal guardian present. If they have any convictions or are partially or fully responsible for a reportable crash while a junior driver, they are once again restricted to one passenger.

Drivers and occupants in a vehicle who are under the age of 18 must wear a properly adjusted and fastened seat belt, and children under the age of eight must be securely fastened in a child restraint system. Failure to comply with the new law's seat belt provisions is a primary offense, meaning that a driver can be pulled over and cited solely for that violation.

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If you send in a Traffic Complaint, there is a tracking number assigned to your complaint.  This tracking number does not work.  You will receive an email that your complaint was received, and your complaint will be assigned a number.  You can follow up on the complaint by emailing the person that sends you the confirmation that your complaint was received.  To report a traffic problem, click on the link below for Traffic violations.  If you want to report a street light out, click on the link below to report a street light outage.

HELP US KEEP YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFE, REPORT TRAFFIC VIOLATIONS HERE
REPORT A STREET LIGHT OUTTAGE