Connor Supports Legislation to Protect Emergency Vehicles Following Trooper Deaths

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. John Connor, D-Lockport, is fighting to increase penalties for reckless driving near pulled-over emergency vehicles, protecting local law enforcement officials in the wake of the tragic deaths of two state troopers during roadside stops.

“We have to ensure our emergency workers are safe from driver negligence,” Connor said. “Trooper Brooke Jones-Story and Trooper Christopher Lambert were both struck and killed by passing vehicles while in the line of duty; those sad losses were preventable. We owe it to their families to make changes to stop similar accidents from happening again.”

Connor is supporting Senate Bill 1862, making changes to a current traffic law: Scott’s Law, which increases the penalty for injuring or killing an emergency worker during a traffic stop up to a maximum of seven years in prison. The bill also increases minimum fines on traffic violations which do not result in casualties from $100 to $500, and this money will go to a fund dedicated to educating the public about the law.

Connor is also backing Senate Bill 2038, which requires questions on Scott’s Law be added to the written driver’s license exam and creates the “Move Over Task Force” to study more solutions to the problem.

“Illinois drivers need to be more aware of the road while they are driving,” Connor said. “These accidents are not caused by dangerous criminals, they’re caused by regular motorists not paying enough attention. We need to be prepared for roadside stops while driving, and if we can’t do that, we should not be behind the wheel of a car.”