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03/28/2024 04:53 AM
Pennsylvania State Senate
https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/Legis/CSM/showMemoPublic.cfm?chamber=S&SPick=20150&cosponId=20518
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Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2015 - 2016 Regular Session

MEMORANDUM

Posted: July 5, 2016 02:03 PM
From: Senator John C. Rafferty, Jr. and Sen. Rob Teplitz
To: All Senate members
Subject: Strengthening Pennsylvania's "Steer Clear" Law
 
In the near future, we plan to introduce legislation that will amend the Vehicle Code (Title 75) to increase fines and to suspend the licenses of repeat offenders of Pennsylvania’s “Steer Clear” law. The “Steer Clear” law requires drivers to slow down and to move into a lane not adjacent to an emergency response area, if possible.

This legislation will achieve the following:
  • Set a maximum fine of $500 for a second offense.
  • Establish a maximum fine of $1,000 for a third or subsequent offense.
  • Introduce a 90 day license suspension for a third or subsequent offense.
  • Require PennDOT to produce an annual report that contains data on these offenses as well as to conduct an analysis of PennDOT’s education efforts on the “Steer Clear” law.
While the “Steer Clear” law has been in effect since 2001, the number of incidents is continuing to increase dramatically. According to PennDOT, from 2013 to 2015, total charges rose by more than 85%.

The steeper fines and license suspension introduced in this legislation should act as a deterrent against repeat offenders, while also providing another opportunity to educate drivers on the “Steer Clear” law.

This legislation was brought to our attention by a constituent from Senator Teplitz’s District whose son was killed while responding to a disabled vehicle when a motorist did not observe the current “Steer Clear” law. It is vital to protect law enforcement, tow truck operators, PennDOT operators and other emergency personnel while they help us in our time of need.

Please join us in co-sponsoring this necessary legislation to mitigate these tragedies and to make Pennsylvania's roadways a safer place for emergency responders.

If you have any questions, please contact Nolan Ritchie, Senator Rafferty’s Office, at nritchie@pasen.gov or Jonathan Hendrickson, Senator Teplitz’s Office, at jhendrickson@pasenate.com.



Introduced as SB1366