HCS HB 489 -- FAILURE TO YIELD TO EMERGENCY VEHICLES

SPONSOR:  Lipke (Meadows)

COMMITTEE ACTION:  Voted "do pass" by the Committee on Crime
Prevention and Public Safety by a vote of 11 to 0.

This substitute increases the penalty for failure to yield to an
emergency vehicle from a class C to a class B misdemeanor.

FISCAL NOTE:  No impact on state funds in FY 2006, FY 2007, and
FY 2008.

PROPONENTS:  Supporters say that the law that requires drivers to
yield to emergency vehicles is ignored.  It's not a problem for
police officers, because people know they will get a ticket if
they ignore a cop; however, ambulances are constantly getting
stuck behind people who refuse to get out of the way.  With many
medical emergencies, a delay of a couple minutes can be the
difference between life and death.  With a tougher penalty, more
people will hopefully be aware and comply with the law.

Testifying for the bill were Representative Meadows; and Missouri
Police Chiefs' Association.

OPPONENTS:  There was no opposition voiced to the committee.

Richard Smreker, Senior Legislative Analyst

Missouri House of Representatives
93rd General Assembly, 1st Regular Session
Last Updated August 25, 2005 at 1:19 pm