Connecticut Senate Bill SB00270

Connecticut 2020 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/26/20
• Refer: 2/26/20

Caption

An Act Requiring Police Officers And Vehicles With Blue Lights To Be Stationed In Certain Highway Work Zones.

Impact

If enacted, SB00270 will amend the existing statutes to specifically require the Department of Transportation to station at least one public safety officer and one vehicle displaying blue lights at certain highway work zones. This measure is expected to increase the visibility of hazards posed by the ongoing work, thereby reducing accidents involving motor vehicles in these areas. The bill defines various violations and corresponding penalties for drivers who fail to comply with traffic regulations within work zones, particularly those that put highway workers at risk.

Summary

SB00270 is an act that mandates the presence of police officers and vehicles equipped with blue lights in designated highway work zones in order to enhance the safety of highway workers and the general public. As defined in the bill, 'highway work zones' are areas on state highways where construction, maintenance, or utility work is being conducted. This legislation aims to minimize the risks that highway workers face by ensuring that these zones are properly monitored and secured through visible police presence.

Conclusion

Overall, SB00270 reflects a proactive approach toward enhancing safety measures in highway work zones, though the implementation and enforcement of the bill will be critical in determining its ultimate effectiveness in protecting workers and reducing vehicular accidents. By instituting clear regulations and requirements for policing these zones, the state aims to reinforce public safety and accountability among drivers operating near vulnerable highway work environments.

Contention

The bill establishes the criminal offense of 'endangerment of a highway worker,' which applies to drivers who exceed speed limits or disobey traffic controls in work zones. It delineates various violations, along with corresponding fines that escalate in severity depending on whether a worker is injured or killed. Critics may express concerns about how such laws could lead to increased penalties for accidental infractions, raising questions about the fairness and effectiveness of such measures in genuinely improving safety.