SENATE BILL No. 971

 

 

May 2, 2018, Introduced by Senators HOOD, GREGORY and ANANICH and referred to the Committee on Transportation.

 

 

     A bill to amend 1949 PA 300, entitled

 

"Michigan vehicle code,"

 

by amending section 653a (MCL 257.653a), as added by 2000 PA 458.

 

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF MICHIGAN ENACT:

 

     Sec. 653a. (1) Upon Except as provided in section 653b, upon

 

approaching and passing a stationary authorized emergency vehicle,

 

that is giving a visual signal by means of flashing, rotating, or

 

oscillating red, blue, or white lights as permitted by section 698,

 

the driver of an approaching vehicle shall exhibit due care and

 

caution, as required under the following:

 

     (a) On any public roadway with at least 2 adjacent lanes

 

proceeding in the same direction of the stationary authorized

 

emergency vehicle, the driver of the approaching vehicle shall

 


proceed with caution and yield the right-of-way by moving into a

 

lane at least 1 moving lane or 2 vehicle widths apart from the

 

stationary authorized emergency vehicle, unless directed otherwise

 

by a police officer. If movement to an adjacent lane or 2 vehicle

 

widths apart is not possible due to weather, road conditions, or

 

the immediate presence of vehicular or pedestrian traffic in

 

parallel moving lanes, the driver of the approaching vehicle shall

 

proceed as required in subdivision (b).

 

     (b) On any public roadway that does not have at least 2

 

adjacent lanes proceeding in the same direction as the stationary

 

authorized emergency vehicle, or if the movement by the driver of

 

the vehicle into an adjacent lane or 2 vehicle widths apart is not

 

possible as described in subdivision (a), the approaching vehicle

 

shall reduce and maintain a safe speed for weather, road

 

conditions, and vehicular or pedestrian traffic and proceed with

 

due care and caution, or as directed by a police officer.

 

     (2) Except as provided in subsections (3) and (4), a person

 

who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by

 

a fine of not more than $500.00 or imprisonment for not more than

 

90 days, or both.

 

     (3) A person who violates this section and causes injury to a

 

police officer, firefighter, or other emergency response personnel

 

an individual in the immediate area of the stationary authorized

 

emergency vehicle is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not

 

more than $1,000.00 or imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or

 

both.

 

     (4) A person who violates this section and causes death to a


police officer, firefighter, or other emergency response personnel

 

an individual in the immediate area of the stationary authorized

 

emergency vehicle is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not

 

more than $7,500.00 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 years,

 

or both.

 

     Enacting section 1. This amendatory act takes effect 90 days

 

after the date it is enacted into law.