This bill amends existing law to include stopped or standing vehicles as part of the highway emergencies that require drivers to reduce speed and, if practical, give a wide berth without endangering oncoming traffic. The amendment specifies that drivers should give this consideration to public safety personnel, any persons in the roadway, and vehicles displaying blue, red, or amber emergency or warning lights, or a stopped or standing vehicle. The bill also requires drivers to obey the directions of any authorized person directing traffic and all applicable emergency signals and traffic control devices, as well as to vacate any lane that is wholly or partially blocked as soon as possible.

The fiscal impact of the bill is indeterminable for state, county, and local expenditures, with no expected impact on revenue. The bill may affect the judicial and correctional systems due to changes in criminal penalties or statutes related to violations, potentially impacting prosecution, incarceration, probation, and parole costs for state, county, and local governments. The bill is set to take effect 60 days after its passage. The fiscal note indicates that there are no deletions or modifications to the estimated state impact on revenue or appropriations, and the same applies to the estimated political subdivision impact on county and local revenue and expenditures.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 265:37-a
As Amended by the Senate: 265:37-a