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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 22, 2023 03:38 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Mike Jones and Rep. Morgan Cephas |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Safe Transport of Prisoners |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation in conjunction with Rep. Morgan Cephas to classify county correctional vehicles as emergency vehicles, which will permit them to use red lights and sirens well as be exempt from certain traffic laws. Currently, only those vehicles owned by a county correctional institution in a city of the first class are considered emergency vehicles. This legislation would simply extend that privilege to all county owned correctional vehicles no matter the type of municipality they are located in. Furthermore, these county correctional vehicles would be limited to acting as emergency vehicles only when responding to an emergency at a corrections institution, or when escorting a prisoner in an ambulance. In addition to emergency response, this bill is needed to ensure that escort vehicles which provide security to surrounding communities are not separated from the prisoner/ambulance they are escorting. The emergency vehicle designation would not permit them to exceed the speed limit and would only permit them to drive through a stop sign or red-light after being given the right-of-way from other drivers. I ask that you please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB1561