4/19/05-A bill has died that would have outlawed devices that can change some traffic signals from red to green.
SF7, sponsored by Sen. Charles Wiger, DFL-North St. Paul, remained in the Senate Transportation Committee past the April 5 deadline for bills to move forward.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach. But drivers can purchase them on the Internet for a couple of hundred dollars.
People can even buy kits and build the signal changer themselves.
Under the bill, violators could face up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail.
The measure was intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using and/or possessing so-called mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRTs.
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.
A recent U.S. Department of Transportation survey showed the devices are in use at 26,500 intersections in 78 cities across the country.
A similar House bill – HF204 – met the same fate.

1/14/05-Sen. Charles Wiger, DFL-North St. Paul, has introduced legislation that would outlaw devices 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. But drivers can purchase them on the Internet for a couple of hundred dollars.
People can even buy kits and build the signal changer themselves.
Under SF7, violators could face up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to 90 days in jail.
The measure is intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using and/or possessing so-called mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRTs.
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.
A recent U.S. Department of Transportation survey showed the devices are in use at 26,500 intersections in 78 cities across the country.
The bill is before the Senate Transportation Committee. For Senate bill status, call (651) 296-2887.
A similar House bill – HF204 – is in the House Transportation Committee.