Who patrols Rte 1 in Bucks County? Local PD or State Police? I did hear mention of Lincoln Highway by local Bucks county police department, but I'm not sure.
Rt 1 in Bucks county
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policefreak said:
When I'm over that way working, I usually see Middletown PD responding to Rt 1 in their area. I only really travel 1 between the turnpike and 95, though.
US and PA routes are patrolled by both PSP and muncipal departments. PSP has statewide jurisdiction and while their focus is primarly Interstates, the Turnpike, and areas without local police they can and do make traffic stops anywhere, including city streets. US 1 passes through Bensalem and Middletown Townships.
US 1 in Bucks is handled locally. I never have seen the state working it. I-95 in that area is covered by PSP. I have seen Bensalem handling incidents on there but I am not sure if they were primary or assisting.
trafficdan said:
Municipal PD's can make traffic stops and assist on the Interstates but PSP is primary for the whole system, including the ramps. If an accident occurs on the ramp itself it is PSP's investigation. If the accident is in the intersection of ramp and cross road it is the municipal agency's--if there is one that covers that area.
Bottom line: if you are monitoring in PA in order to be aware of traffic problems you should scan both the municipals and PSP. Set the County Fire Dispatch as a priority channel since almost every major situation will involve FIre/EMS.
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PCPA said:
This is how I thought it was, too. However, in Delco, the locals (Ridley, Tinicum, Chester, etc) all respond to accidents on I-95...or they used to when I lived down that way (1990's).
There always seems to be a gray area in PennsylMania.
benrussellpa said:
Not worth splitting hairs, but I was making a distinction between investigation/reports/citations and response.
As for the gray area, up until the Governor Rendell administration Philadelphia City PD patrolled and investigated incidents on I-95 and I-76 within the CIty. Rendell has made a lot of political hay over increasing the authorized strength and hires of PSP but almost all of the additional personnel assignments have been used up through taking over the I-76/I-95 patrols. In plain English, just another bailout for Philly by the rest of the Keystone State's taxpayers.
ctrabs74
Member
PCPA said:
In even plainer English, it means more troopers for Philly and fewer troopers in the rest of the state. Try working in an area like Northern and Central Chester County where there are probably only three to four 2-man units covering that entire area during the overnight. Watch what happens when all of those units are tied up with a fatal MVA on the 30 bypass while another major incident occurs in, say, Honey Brook or West Caln. Then ask me how great an idea it is for Rendell to send more troopers to bail out Philadelphia...
Getting back on topic (local vs state on US and Interstates) - in Chester County, West Goshen, West Whiteland, and Tredyffrin cover and investigate MVAs their sections of US 202, while PSP covers the section of 202 in East Whiteland.
It really depends on the municipality and whatever L/E resources (or lack therof) are available to provide such services...
sta18ff
Member
There are actually two parts to Rt 1. The Rt 1 superhighway and Rt 1 busines (aka Lincoln Highway).
The Rt 1 superhighway begins at the Philadelphia line where it changes from Roosevelt Blvd to Rt 1 or Old Lincoln Hy as you cross into Bensalem (22PD). Bensalem covers from the Philly line to the bridge over the Neshaminy Creek. From there up to Oxford Valley Rd it is covered by Middletown (44PD) with the exception of a small portion that crosses through Langhorne Manor Boro (41PD-part time dept). Then from Oxford Valley Rd until just after the split to Bridge St (also called the Rt 32 split) it is covered by Falls (34PD). There is a very small portion of Rt 1 that is covered by Morrisville (46PD) up to the Pennsylvania Av exit. The last portion of the superhighway is the only portion covered by Pennsylvania State Police (from Pennsylvania Av to the toll bridge into NJ)
The Rt 1 business portion (aka Lincoln Hy) branches off of the superhighway in Middletown and then continues into Falls. They are the only 2 depts that cover Lincoln Hy.
Sorry for the long explaination but I hope this clarifies things. Jeff S.
The Rt 1 superhighway begins at the Philadelphia line where it changes from Roosevelt Blvd to Rt 1 or Old Lincoln Hy as you cross into Bensalem (22PD). Bensalem covers from the Philly line to the bridge over the Neshaminy Creek. From there up to Oxford Valley Rd it is covered by Middletown (44PD) with the exception of a small portion that crosses through Langhorne Manor Boro (41PD-part time dept). Then from Oxford Valley Rd until just after the split to Bridge St (also called the Rt 32 split) it is covered by Falls (34PD). There is a very small portion of Rt 1 that is covered by Morrisville (46PD) up to the Pennsylvania Av exit. The last portion of the superhighway is the only portion covered by Pennsylvania State Police (from Pennsylvania Av to the toll bridge into NJ)
The Rt 1 business portion (aka Lincoln Hy) branches off of the superhighway in Middletown and then continues into Falls. They are the only 2 depts that cover Lincoln Hy.
Sorry for the long explaination but I hope this clarifies things. Jeff S.
sta18ff
Member
To further clarify the jurisdictions...
ALL CALLS on Rt 1 super and Rt 1 business are covered by the local depts with the exception being the small portion in Morrisville just before the toll bridge.
ALL CALLS on Rt 1 super and Rt 1 business are covered by the local depts with the exception being the small portion in Morrisville just before the toll bridge.
Okay great! See, I understand route 1 is a very dangerous highway in that area, so its good to know if I ever have to travel that way. Mainly I was concerned with Rte 1 bypass highway, specifically in the area of the ramps to the PA turnpike and Street Road. I guess that is Bensalem territory? Thanks for your input.
policefreak said:
This road's a freakin' nightmare...I hate driving on it.
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