Yeah, my company just did a big preemption installation project involveing a similiar product by 3m, opticom. The 3m version is coded so products like the "mirt" that send out a zero code won't work.
They do not work as fast as you think. The signal controller is seperate from the premtion device. So the device can't overrule the safety of the intersection, although fire, police, and EMT's seem to wish they worked a little faster, but it's public safety first.
As far as using it for personal reason, let's put it this way. My company has one of the good emitters, and I was told if I ever take it for personal use, well let's just say I won't take it for a joy ride. There is a reason they are sold to fire, police, and EMT's only. It took alot of work for my company to get one, and we test the things.