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A bill that would crack down on slow drivers on Colorado's narrow mountain roads gained final House passage today.
HB 1042, which is sponsored by Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, was approved on a 37-27 vote.
The measure would authorize law enforcement officers to ticket drivers who operate vehicles at a velocity well below the speed limit and thereby hold up a line of traffic on two-lane roads. It would not require drivers to pull off to let those vehicles pass unless there is a safe place to do so.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
Showing posts with label HB 1042. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HB 1042. Show all posts
Monday, January 26, 2009
Friday, January 23, 2009
Merrifield's Bill Discouraging Slow Mountain Drivers Moves On
The House gave preliminary approval today to a bill that would punish drivers on narrow mountain roads who hold up lines of traffic by driving too slowly.
HB 1042 cleared the chamber after rural legislators led by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, led an unsuccessful effort to secure an exemption for farm vehicles and Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, failed to win a provision excusing trucks carrying hazardous waste from the proposed law.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, has argued that slow-moving vehicles are dangerous because they provoke drivers of vehicles behind them to attempt to pass when not advisable.
Merrifield has said that the bill would not require slower drivers to pull off the road if there is no safe place to do so.
The bill, if enacted into law, would allow law enforcement officers to cite a driver's operation of his or her motor vehicle at slow velocity is impeding the forward progress of five or more other motor vehicles
The bill must pass a third reading in the House before moving on to the Senate.
HB 1042 cleared the chamber after rural legislators led by Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, led an unsuccessful effort to secure an exemption for farm vehicles and Rep. David Balmer, R-Centennial, failed to win a provision excusing trucks carrying hazardous waste from the proposed law.
The bill's sponsor, Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, has argued that slow-moving vehicles are dangerous because they provoke drivers of vehicles behind them to attempt to pass when not advisable.
Merrifield has said that the bill would not require slower drivers to pull off the road if there is no safe place to do so.
The bill, if enacted into law, would allow law enforcement officers to cite a driver's operation of his or her motor vehicle at slow velocity is impeding the forward progress of five or more other motor vehicles
The bill must pass a third reading in the House before moving on to the Senate.
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Merrifield's "Car Courtesy" Bill Clears Committee
Legislation that aims to keep traffic moving reasonably fast on Colorado's mountain roads got the approval of a House committee this morning.
HB 1042 requires any vehicle traveling at a velocity less than the speed limit and which is blocking more than five other vehicles to pull over so that the vehicles behind can pass. The slow driver would be required to pull off the road at the first safe location.
"People can relate to this because at one time or another they've been stuck behind a slow RV or car," sponsoring Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, said. "On narrow winding roads, I see it happening all the time."
Merrifield said he witnessed a similar law in action during a visit to Alaska last summer. The "Last Frontier" experiences an influx of slow recreational vehicles in the warm months and that state's traffic code requires those vehicles to make way for faster vehicles on narrow roads.
"I'm calling it the 'Car Courtesy Bill,'" Merrifield said. "If you are a slow driver, the courteous thing to do, when you have the opportunity, is to get out of the way. Such courtesy will reduce road rage, too, but it’s primarily a safety issue."
The veteran Democrat said that he thinks his bill, if enacted, will lower the temptation to pass when conditions do not warrant it.
"Cars get backed up and when they get impatient, drivers try to pass," Merrifield said. "They pass when you can't see the traffic ahead or they pass when there are too many vehicles to be passing safely. I've seen people passing when they never should've tried. I'm sure they just got sick and tired of waiting."
The bill now goes to the House floor.
HB 1042 requires any vehicle traveling at a velocity less than the speed limit and which is blocking more than five other vehicles to pull over so that the vehicles behind can pass. The slow driver would be required to pull off the road at the first safe location.
"People can relate to this because at one time or another they've been stuck behind a slow RV or car," sponsoring Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, said. "On narrow winding roads, I see it happening all the time."
Merrifield said he witnessed a similar law in action during a visit to Alaska last summer. The "Last Frontier" experiences an influx of slow recreational vehicles in the warm months and that state's traffic code requires those vehicles to make way for faster vehicles on narrow roads.
"I'm calling it the 'Car Courtesy Bill,'" Merrifield said. "If you are a slow driver, the courteous thing to do, when you have the opportunity, is to get out of the way. Such courtesy will reduce road rage, too, but it’s primarily a safety issue."
The veteran Democrat said that he thinks his bill, if enacted, will lower the temptation to pass when conditions do not warrant it.
"Cars get backed up and when they get impatient, drivers try to pass," Merrifield said. "They pass when you can't see the traffic ahead or they pass when there are too many vehicles to be passing safely. I've seen people passing when they never should've tried. I'm sure they just got sick and tired of waiting."
The bill now goes to the House floor.
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Merrifield Pushes Bill to Encourage Slow Mountain Road Drivers to Make Room for Others
Rep. Mike Merrifield, D-Colorado Springs, has lost some patience with drivers on mountain roads who slow down traffic.
The avid mountain biker and skiier has introduced legislation that would allow police to ticket drivers of cars moving at less than the speed limit on a two-lane mountain road if their leisurely pace is causing a line of five or more vehicles to build up behind them.
Merrifield says it's a matter of safety.
"A number of times I’ve seen a number of cars who have just gotten fed up and passed in dangerous and illegal places and put peoples’ lives in danger," he said.
Merrifield emphasized that his bill would not require drivers to pull off the road in an unsafe place, such as on a stretch where no shoulders exist.
"If there’s no place to pull over, then you don’t have to," he said. "We’re trying to make the situation safer, not less safe.”
HB 1042, if enacted into law, would require only that the driver impeding traffic move off the road at the first safe place available.
The Colorado Highway Patrol supports the bill, Merrifield said.
The legislature enacted a requirement that drivers in the left lanes of multi-lane freeways move over to accommodate faster-moving vehicles a few years ago.
Merrifield's bill will have its first hearing tomorrow.
The avid mountain biker and skiier has introduced legislation that would allow police to ticket drivers of cars moving at less than the speed limit on a two-lane mountain road if their leisurely pace is causing a line of five or more vehicles to build up behind them.
Merrifield says it's a matter of safety.
"A number of times I’ve seen a number of cars who have just gotten fed up and passed in dangerous and illegal places and put peoples’ lives in danger," he said.
Merrifield emphasized that his bill would not require drivers to pull off the road in an unsafe place, such as on a stretch where no shoulders exist.
"If there’s no place to pull over, then you don’t have to," he said. "We’re trying to make the situation safer, not less safe.”
HB 1042, if enacted into law, would require only that the driver impeding traffic move off the road at the first safe place available.
The Colorado Highway Patrol supports the bill, Merrifield said.
The legislature enacted a requirement that drivers in the left lanes of multi-lane freeways move over to accommodate faster-moving vehicles a few years ago.
Merrifield's bill will have its first hearing tomorrow.
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