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State Representative Pat Garofalo
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1069
For more information contact: Austin Bleess 651-296-5529
NEWS RELEASE
REP. GAROFALO, STRACHAN, TESTIFY ON BILL TO RESTRICT POSSESSION OF SIGNAL OVERRIDE DEVICES
ST. PAUL – The House Transportation Policy Committee last week passed a bill authored by State Rep. Pat Garofalo (R-Farmington) that would restrict possession of traffic signal override devices except for use by emergency vehicles. Joining him in testifying was Lakeville Police Chief Steve Strachan.
“It really is a public safety issue,” Garofalo said. “You can’t have everyone free to flip a switch and turn the lights to green. The potential for accidents is huge.”
The devices are used at stop-and-go lights throughout Minnesota. Police and fire vehicles rely on the transmitters to navigate intersections during emergency calls. But they have recently been offered for sale to the public. Strachan offered similar legislation in 2004 when he was the state representative for the region.
“These devices are intended to get police, fire and ambulance personnel to your house faster in an emergency,” Strachan said. “Not so people can utilize a public safety system just to get through traffic faster at the expense of everyone else.”
The legislation now goes to the House Public safety and Finance Committee.
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