**Congress Considers Ban\
on Rogue Traffic Preemption Devices**

By **Steve Austin**

**Provided by The ResponderSafety Newsletter**

U.S. Senator Mike DeWine (OH-R) thinks illegal traffic signal preemption
devices pose a danger to emergency responders and the driving public.
He's right. That is why DeWine, a leader for highway safety and a friend
of the fire service in the Senate submitted S.1825, the Safe
Intersection Act of 2003. The bill seeks to prevent tragedies in an
already dangerous environment for first responders, America's streets
and highways.

S.1825 is Co-sponsored by Senator Diane Feinstein (CA-D) another strong
supporter of fire service issues. The legislation makes owning or
selling a device that controls traffic signals by or to unauthorized
persons a misdemeanor with a penalty not to exceed a \$10,000 fine
and/or six months in jail. "As public access to mobile ... transmitters
increases, we must act now to ensure the safety of those who travel our
roads," said Senator DeWine. "My Safe Intersections Act will institute
penalties in order to curb unauthorized sale and use of this technology
originally intended for first responders."

Controllers for preemption devices are routinely appearing in auctions
on the internet. Ads often include a disclaimer that they are only for
sale to authorized users. Senate staffers investigating the issue have
discovered that upon calling the sellers they are instructed how to
purchase the units and are not questioned if they are public safety or
transportation department officials that have reason to purchase them.
However not all sellers list stipulations. One ad on an internet auction
site pitched sales with the following: "It's every motorist's fantasy to
be able to make a red traffic light turn green without so much as easing
of the accelerator."

Preemption devices for traffic signals have proliferated in the past
several years. Recently technology has been developed to mass produce
rogue control devices that are finding their way into personal vehicles.
Traffic control preemption devices are not universally embraced by all
of public safety or highway managers because of differing opinions on
their usefulness and safety. The devices usually receive passing grades
from fire departments that utilize them to take control of intersections
while responding. One issue authorized users do agree upon is that a
controller in the hands of the motoring public is an accident waiting to
happen.

Only Michigan currently has a law specifying who may purchase and use
these devices. Senator DeWine's legislation would ban unauthorized use
anywhere in the country. The Senator wisely has chosen to let state or
local governments decide who the authorized users should be in their
jurisdiction avoiding a "Washington knows better" directive in the bill.

Rogue preemption devices are a real threat to emergency personnel who
are already at risk while responding, especially at intersections. Fire
service leadership is considering how these accidents can be reduced.
Plans that call for changing apparatus design, more training and tougher
standards for apparatus operators are under study. The misuse of traffic
controllers adds dangerous dimension to an already serious problem.

Public safety officials fear the worst if preemption control devices
gets in the hands of unauthorized users. Imagine a bank robber fleeing
the scene. An aggressive driver who has the ability to control traffic
lights might be a fire department's worst nightmare. So could an
irresponsible hazardous material hauler or a car load of teenagers out
for a joy ride.

The fire service isn't alone in their apprehension. Advocates for
Highway and Auto Safety (Advocates), an alliance of consumer, health and
safety groups, and insurance companies who has a history of working with
the fire service on highway issues is also concerned. "These devices in
the hands of the general public are dangerous. Use of the technology
should be reserved for the rare instances when fire and rescue personnel
need them to protect human lives, not to satisfy a deadly whim that also
breaks the law," said Judith Lee Stone, president of Advocates.

Major fire service groups working with the Congressional Fire Services
Institute are looking at the issue and are expected to offer support for
passage of the legislation.

> Meanwhile out on the street firefighters are responding through
> dangerous intersections thousands of times a day. "Heavy traffic is
> one of the greatest risks firefighters take is when they are
> responding to an emergency", says Battalion Fire Chief Billy
> Goldfedder, a 31 year veteran Ohio firefighter and nationally
> recognized firefighter safety instructor. "Every single opportunity
> must be given to firefighters so that they can arrive safely...
> Unauthorized preemption devices directly interfere with a fire or
> emergency medical response-and our ability to get there safely in
> order to save a life"\...It is clear that congress can minimize the
> risk for Americas Bravest with their support of this act" he added.