5/3/05-An effort to outlaw the devices that can change some traffic signals from red to green is likely dead.
The bill failed to meet a May 1 deadline to pass the House. Now it will take a two-thirds vote in favor to restart the bill.
A traffic-light changer is designed to allow police, fire and other emergency officials to clear intersections before they approach. But some drivers have managed to purchase them on the Internet for a couple of hundred dollars.
People can even buy kits and build the signal changers themselves.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Herb Kirsh, D-Clover, is intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using, selling or buying so-called mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRTs.
The proposal – H3046 – calls for violators to face up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to one year in prison.
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.

1/12/05-The Senate Judiciary Committee is reviewing legislation to outlaw the 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 some drivers have managed to purchase them on the Internet for a couple of hundred dollars.
People can even buy kits and build the signal changers themselves.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. Herb Kirsh, D-Clover, is intended to deter anyone other than public safety and transit agencies from using, selling or buying so-called mobile infrared transmitters, or MIRTs.
The proposal – H3046 – calls for violators to face up to a $1,000 fine and/or up to one year in prison.
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.
The bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee. For House bill status, call (803) 734-6720.