4/6/04-The Senate tabled a bill that would outlaw a device that can change some traffic signals from red to green.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach.
The House voted 167-1 in February to advance the measure intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using so-called mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRT. The Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee followed suit later the same month only to have the full Senate refuse a vote on the bill.
Under HB1113, sponsored by Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain, a person caught buying, selling or possessing the device could be charged with a misdemeanor.

3/5/04-The Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee voted in favor of a measure that would outlaw a device that can change some traffic signals from red to green.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach.
The measure, which previously passed the House 167-1, is intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRT. It now goes to the full Senate for consideration.
Under HB1113, sponsored by Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain, a person caught buying, selling or possessing the device could be charged with a misdemeanor.
The devices, which sit on a vehicle’s dash, are not regulated by current federal standards because they rely on a beam of light instead of a radio wave to trigger the light-changing mechanisms that have been attached to some intersections.
For bill status, call (404) 656-5015.

2/9/04-The House overwhelmingly approved a bill that would outlaw a device that can change some traffic signals from red to green.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach.
The House voted 167-1 Feb. 5 to advance the measure intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRT. It now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Under HB1113, sponsored by Rep. Billy Mitchell, D-Stone Mountain, a person caught buying, selling or possessing the device could be charged with a misdemeanor.
The devices, which sit on a vehicle’s dash, are not regulated by current federal standards because they rely on a beam of light instead of a radio wave to trigger the light-changing mechanisms that have been attached to some intersections.
For House bill status, call (404) 656-5015.