Federal · Title 18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure

18 U.S.C. § 39: Traffic signal preemption transmitters

Misdemeanor

What this law says, in plain English

It is illegal to sell traffic signal preemption transmitters to unauthorized users or to use such transmitters without authorization. Penalties include fines and up to one year imprisonment for selling; up to six months for unauthorized use.

Read the full statutory text

Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly sells a traffic signal preemption transmitter to a nonqualifying user shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 1 year, or both. Whoever, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, being a nonqualifying user makes unauthorized use of a traffic signal preemption transmitter shall be fined under this title, or imprisoned not more than 6 months, or both. The term “traffic signal preemption transmitter” means any mechanism that can change or alter a traffic signal’s phase time or sequence. The term “nonqualifying user” means a person who uses a traffic signal preemption transmitter and is not acting on behalf of a public agency or private corporation authorized by law to provide fire protection, law enforcement, emergency medical services, transit services, maintenance, or other services for a Federal, State, or local government entity, but does not include a person using a traffic signal preemption transmitter for classroom or instructional purposes.

Verify at the official source: Federal legislative text

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This page is legal information, not legal advice. Code text is sourced from official publications and may lag amendments — always confirm at the official source linked above. Plain-English summaries and relationship data are AI-derived and reviewed on an ongoing basis; verify with a licensed attorney before acting.