In Pennsylvania, more than half of the 2,562 municipalities have no police force. In these 1,287 communities, the State Police step in to conduct criminal investigations, patrol the streets, and enforce traffic codes.

The municipalities pay nothing for the law enforcement protection but receive half of the revenue generated from traffic citations. While this includes some rural communities, Hempfield Township outside of Pittsburgh (with a population of 43,000) relies on State Police coverage. The residents of Lower Macungie Township have a median household income of $80,000, but their community pays nothing for the State Police to protect them.

A 2012 report by Penn State's Justice Center for Research estimated the State Police spends nearly half its annual budget on municipal policing. Last year, state Representative Mike Sturla (D-96th) sponsored a bill that would have charged municipalities a $156 per capita fee to cover the costs of the State Police coverage as well as generate transportation revenue. The bill died in committee, but will be re-introduced in the next session.

David Sanko, executive director of the Pennsylvania State Association of Townships Supervisors, has expressed opposition to the fees, saying it would create an undue financial burden on the municipalities.

Sturla and Sanko will join WITF's Smart Talk to discuss the proposal. Also, Joe Kovel, President of the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association, will talk about the impact this policing of municipalities is having on the agency.