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US Code · Through Public Law 119-103 (09/02/2026)

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

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Where this section sits in the code
  1. Title 18—CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE
  2. CHAPTER 2—AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR VEHICLES

(a) Offenses.—(1) Sale.—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. (2) Use.—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. (b) Definitions.—In this section, the following definitions apply:(1) Traffic signal preemption transmitter.—The term “traffic signal preemption transmitter” means any mechanism that can change or alter a traffic signal’s phase time or sequence. (2) Nonqualifying user.—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.

Collected 2026-09-10T05:56:53Z. Source file · JSON

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