- Committee -

SCS/SBs 721, 757, 818 & 930 - This act requires drivers to take certain actions, including yielding the right-of-way when possible, when an emergency vehicle is approaching. This provision is contained SB 721 (2002).

Current Missouri law requires drivers to obey traffic-related signals and directions given by members of the Missouri Highway Patrol (Section 43.170, RSMo). Failure to follow such direction is a misdemeanor offense.

This act extends the reach of the current law by also requiring drivers to obey signals and directions given by sheriffs and deputy sheriffs. This provision is identical to provisions contained in SB 237 (2001).

This act creates the "Head Injury Fund" for use by the Missouri Head Injury Advisory Council. A new Section 304.028 creates the Fund for the receipt of judgments, grants, private donations, and other moneys. Such funds will be used for the integration of medical, social, and educational services and for outreach to individuals with traumatic head injury and their families. Unexpended balances will not transfer to general revenue. This section also adds a $2.00 surcharge for violations of any county ordinance or state criminal or traffic law Such surcharge will be deposited into the Head Injury Fund. This is substantially similar to SB 757 (2002) and SB 41 (2001).

This act also modifies the language on the Spinal Cord Injury Fund. Instead of a $25 fee for every intoxicated related offense, a $2 surcharge will be assessed on every violation of criminal or traffic offense. The money will be deposited in the Spinal Cord Injury Fund.

This act modifies the mental state required of a person who fails to comply with an lawful order of a police officer or fire department official from willfully to knowingly. This act includes blue flashing lights for authorized emergency vehicles.

This act removes the requirement that the motorman of a streetcar stop the streetcar upon the approach of an authorized emergency vehicle. This act removes the provision of law regarding written accident reports. This act removes the exclusion that written accident reports shall not be used as evidence in a court proceeding. This act expands the rule that a driver shall not follow an emergency vehicle closer than 500 feet. The current restriction only applies to fire engines. This act removes a provision of law regarding when police officers are authorized to remove motor vehicles. These provisions are contained in SB 818 (2002).

This act requires the Director of the Department of Revenue to issues stickers or signs which bear the words "PERMIT DRIVER" to permit drivers. The sticker or sign may be affixed to the rear window of the motor vehicle by the permit driver. This language is contained in SB 930 (2002).

The act adds resisting or interfering with a detention or stop to the current crime of resisting or interfering with arrest. This act creates the presumption that a person is fleeing a vehicle stop if the person continues to operate a motor vehicle after seeing emergency lights or hearing a siren from the law enforcement vehicle that is pursuing the person. This act makes resisting or interfering with an arrest, detention, or stop is a class D felony. This language is similar to that contained in SB 807 (2002).

STEPHEN WITTE