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18 U.S.C. § 39

U.S. CodeFederalPositive Law
Traffic signal preemption transmitters
About This Law
/us/usc/t18/s39
Title
18 — Crimes and Criminal Procedure
Chapter
PTI/CH2
Release
119-84
Release Date
2026-04-17

Section Text

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(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. (Added Pub. L. 109–59, title II, § 2018(a), Aug. 10, 2005, 119 Stat. 1542.) Editorial Notes Codification Another section 39 was renumbered section 40 of this title.

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