Black Forest Broadcasting

 

…Elderly driver hurt in accident in Coudersport…Troopers have arrested Coudersport man for writing bad check to Solid Waste Authority…Student arrested for having drugs at Northern Potter High School…Bill would allow municipal police to use radar…

Potter County

An elderly Ulysses driver was hurt in a one-vehicle accident Friday in Coudersport borough. State police said 81 year old Lloyd Prouty was going west on Route 6 near Eulalia Street when his Chrysler 200 failed to make a left turn and struck a rock wall embankment before overturning coming to rest upside down. Prouty was taken to UPMC Cole for treatment of minor injuries.

Troopers at Coudersport did not release the name of a 27 year old Coudersport man for writing a worthless check to the Potter County Solid Waste Authority January 14. Authorities also did not reveal the amount of the bounced check.

A 16 year old Westfield girl is  facing drug charges being filed by Coudersport state police. Troopers were called to the Northern Potter High School on February 22 on a report of drugs being found on school grounds.

Elk County

DUI charges are pending blood test results for a 49 year old Ridgway man who was stopped by troopers on Shelvey Summit Road in Ridgway Township Friday night. Troopers did not release the suspect’s name but claim he was observed committing multiple traffic violations while driving a 2015 Dodge Caravan.

Tioga County

Weather conditions were a factor in a one-vehicle accident last Tuesday morning  in Deerfield Township. Troopers said Brianna Shimkanin was headed south on Boatman Road when her Jeep Cherokee lost traction due to snow and ice, crossed the road and rolled over after hitting an embankment. The driver was using a seatbelt and escaped injury.

A Lynchburg, VA driver escaped injury in car/deer encounter  Thursday afternoon in Bloss Township. State police report Andrew Rucker swerved his Ford Focus to avoid a deer on Route 15 causing the car to strike a guard wire.

Statewide

Legislation sponsored by Sen. Greg Rothman (R-34) permitting local police in Pennsylvania to use radar for speed enforcement was approved unanimously last week by the Senate Transportation Committee. Pennsylvania is the only state in the country that prohibits local police from being equipped with speed-enforcement radar.

Senate Bill 459 would permit local radar as an optional speed enforcement tool for municipalities, who would need to enact an ordinance prior to deploying its use. The bill also has built-in protections to ensure radar will not be misused for revenue generation, and includes other good-government safeguards, such as:

    Revenue collected through local radar speed enforcement may not exceed the previous year’s speed enforcement revenue by more than 1%.

    Municipalities who choose to adopt local radar must install clearly posted signage advertising the use of radar and give drivers a 90-day grace period.

    Local police officers would be required to complete a training course before use.

    Radar may only be used when an officer is in or adjacent to a clearly marked law enforcement vehicle.

    No citation may be issued unless the driver is exceeding the posted speed limit by 10 mph or more.

    Local radar citations may not result in the issuance of points.

Senate Bill 459 is supported by organizations such as the Pennsylvania Municipal League, the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Pennsylvania State Lodge, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, the Pennsylvania State Association of Boroughs, the Pennsylvania Association of Township Commissioners, the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors and the Pennsylvania State Mayors’ Association.