|
|
|
A number of new state laws will take effect July 1 enacted with the idea of improving public safety. According to a statement released on Thursday by the Democratic Caucus of the Indiana House of Representatives, the most drastic is Public Law 101, sponsored by State Rep. Peggy Welch, D-Bloomington, which is intended to eliminate distractions and disturbances at the root of accidents caused by teen drivers. Under PL 101, drivers under the age of 18 will be prohibited from using cellular telephones or other telecommunications devices. During the first six months they hold a license, teens will also be restricted from driving with passengers other than immediate family members. New nighttime driving restrictions will go into effect as well on July 1. “States that have imposed reasonable restrictions on new drivers have seen a dramatic increase in fatal car crashes,” Welch said. “More than 150 Indiana teens died in car accidents in 2007. State Farm estimates that 50 of those teens could have been saved had these restrictions been in place.” Further protections for teen drivers are set to take effect in July 2010. The minimum age to obtain a driver’s license or learner’s permit will increase, and teen drivers will be required to accrue 50 hours of beind-the-wheel practice time to be eligible for a license, with 10 of those hours dedicated to nighttime driving. Other Public Safety Laws *PL 40 increases the penalty for feticide, “which refers to a violent act that causes the unwarranted termination of a pregnancy,” from eight to 20 years.*PL 116 gives courts the authority to require that offenders who violate restraining orders wear GPS monitoring units. The device would notify victims if their former attacker is nearby. *PL 22 requires law enforcement agencies to submit information on all missing persons cases to the National Crime Center database no later than two hours after the case is reported. “The database is an expedient way for national, state, and local law enforcement to share pertinent information,” the statement said.*PL requires local governments to pick up the costs of life-saving body armor for police officers. *PL 93 ensures that emergency responders are trained to deal with autistic persons. *PL 63 and PL 174 assist injured volunteer firefighters as they go through the recovery process. *PL 51 gives the children of public safety officers killed in the line of duty the opportunity to attend a state college or university free of charge. *PL 43 creates a “silver alert” to help locate aging seniors who have wandered away from their homes.To review any of this legislation in greater detail, visit www.in.gov/legislative
Posted 6/22/2009 |
