Bill Sponsored by Edly-Allen to Protect First Responders from Reckless Drivers Signed into law

LIBERTYVILLE, Ill. – In response to a growing concern for the safety of first responders, legislation sponsored by state Rep. Mary Edly-Allen, D-Libertyville, to enhance penalties for violations of Scott’s Law was signed into law this week.

“The increase in Illinois State Troopers struck and killed while protecting us on our interstates is unacceptable, and it’s clear that the existing laws were not enough to deter drivers from slowing down and moving over,” said Edly-Allen. “Distracted driving puts all of us at risk, but especially our first responders who are doing the dangerous work day in and day out.”

Edly-Allen sponsored Senate Bill 1862, which increases penalties for violations of Illinois’ Scott’s Law, also known as the ‘move over’ law, which requires drivers approaching a stopped emergency vehicle to reduce their speed and change lanes. The penalty for a Scott’s Law violation without injury or vehicle damage increases from $100 to $500; a violation resulting in damage to a vehicle increases from a 90 day license suspension to a Class A Misdemeanor; a violation resulting in injury or death increases from a 280 day license suspension to a Class 4 Felony; and the penalty for a reckless homicide resulting from a violation of Scott’s Law increases from a Class 3 felony to a Class 2 felony.

“We depend on first responders to be there for our families when we need them, and we owe it to them to do everything we can to protect them and make sure that they can go home to their families at the end of a long shift,” Edly-Allen added. “This new law is a good step, but it is up to all of us to be aware of our surroundings, put down the phones, and move over when we see an emergency vehicle on the side of the road.”