SPONSOR: Walsh (50)
COMMITTEE ACTION: Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Public Safety by a vote of 9 to 0. Voted "Do Pass" by the Standing Committee on Rules- Legislative Oversight by a vote of 9 to 0.
This bill adds vehicles and equipment owned, leased, or operated by a coroner, medical examiner, or forensic investigator of the County's Medical Examiner's Office, when responding to a crime scene, motor vehicle accident, workplace accident, or any location at which the services of those professionals have been requested by a law enforcement officer, to the list of vehicles authorized to use or display fixed, flashing, or rotating red or red and blue lights.
PROPONENTS: Supporters say that this does not cost the state anything. This simply allows coroners and certain other people to put sirens on their cars so they can get to scenes more quickly. Many times these people are stopped and told to get back in their cars, etc, because law enforcement does not know who they are. Allowing them to get to scenes faster would help get the scenes cleared faster and would not subject victims' families to as many onlookers.
Testifying for the bill were Representative Walsh; Dale H. Roberts, The Columbia Police Officers Association; and Stacey Huck.
OPPONENTS: There was no opposition voiced to the committee.
Written testimony has been submitted for this bill. The full written testimony can be found under Testimony on the bill page on the House website.
Statutes affected: