---
type: "LegalText"
title: "18 U.S.C. § 39"
description: "Traffic signal preemption transmitters"
jurisdiction: "us"
corpus: "united_states_code"
kind: "code_section"
title_number: 18
title_name: "CRIMES AND CRIMINAL PROCEDURE"
chapter_number: "2"
chapter_name: "AIRCRAFT AND MOTOR VEHICLES"
section: "39"
citation: "18 U.S.C. § 39"
status: "current"
release_point: "119-100"
release_date: "2026-06-26"
source: "official"
source_url: "https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc18@119-100.zip"
source_identifier: "/us/usc/t18/s39"
source_file: "data/legal/raw/us/code/title-18/usc18.xml"
source_hash: "027caf13a912f86c7d2bb5a5ea9b2a459e2d19ee9b2979abf53ac383cee8e7c0"
raw_snapshot_hash: "1a1bbbbdb59e376ada4eb7ad1056fd68d396679ee7ab59f0561af15006122708"
text_hash: "1b4749a804a23635250988cb5bb05e7556b9f1e39e50d44e0201a33d2e2fcae8"
retrieved_at: "2026-07-04"
confidence: "official"
tags: ["legal", "us-code"]
---

# 18 U.S.C. § 39 - Traffic signal preemption transmitters

## Text

(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.)

## Notes

Editorial Notes

Codification Another section 39 was renumbered section 40 of this title.