HB1707--LAWENFORCEMENTPRACTICES
SPONSOR: Myers
COMMITTEEACTION:Voted"DoPass"bytheStandingCommitteeon
CrimePreventionandPublicSafetybyavoteof22to0.
Thisbillallowsthechieflawenforcementexecutiveforanylaw
enforcementagencytorequestassistancefromalawenforcement
agencyinanotherjurisdiction,includingfromoutsidethestate
butwithintheUnitedStates.Thebillcreatesprovisionsforhow
arrestsarehandledifexecutedbyanofficeroutsideofhisorher
jurisdiction. Thebillalsospecifiesthat,forbenefitsandother
employment-relatedmatters,lawenforcementofficersremain
employeesoftheirrespectivelawenforcementagenciesthroughout
anyrequestforassistance.
Currently,thedriverofanemergencyvehiclemayparkorstand,
regardlessofthenormalrulesoftheroad;proceedpastaredor
stopsignalorstopsign,afterslowingdownasnecessaryforsafe
operation;exceedthespeedlimitaslongasthedriverdoesnot
endangerlifeorproperty;anddisregardregulationsgoverning
directionofmovementorturninginspecifieddirections. These
exemptionsonlyapplytoemergencyvehiclesthat,whileinmotion,
soundaudiblesignalsbybell,siren,orexhaustwhistleas
reasonablynecessary,andwhenthevehicleisequippedwithat
leastonelightedlampdisplayingaredlightorbluelightvisible
undernormalatmosphericconditionsfromadistanceof500feetto
thefrontofsuchvehicle.
Thisbillprovidesthatanauthorizedemergencyvehicleoperatedas
apolicevehicleisnotrequiredtouseanaudiblesignalor
displayavisualsignalwhenthevehicleisbeingusedtoget
evidenceofaspeedingviolation;respondtoasuspectedcrimein
progresswhenuseofanaudibleorvisualsignal,orboth,could
reasonablyresultinthedestructionofevidenceorescapeofa
suspect;orconductsurveillanceofavehicleorthepassengersof
avehiclewhoaresuspectedofinvolvementinacrime.
ThisbillisthesameasHB1015(2023).
PROPONENTS: Supporterssaythatthosewhoruntothesoundofthe
gundeserveallthetoolsinthetoolbelttheycanhave.The
mutualaidagreementdescribestheprotocolintheseinstancesas
farasemployment,benefits,andworkers’compensation. Supports
statethatthebillalsodealswithemergencymotorvehicle
language,includingwhenanofficerneedstouselightsandsirens.
Thischangeisneededbecausesometimesanofficerdoesnotwantto
alertthepersontheyareafteroftheofficer'slocation. Inthe KansasCityarea,thereisamemorandumofunderstandingbutthis
wouldprovidemoreclarifyingdetails.
TestifyinginpersonforthebillwereRepresentative Myersandthe
MissouriPoliceChiefsAssociation.
OPPONENTS: Therewasnooppositionvoicedtothecommittee.
OTHERS:Otherstestifyingonthebillsaywhenlawenforcement
makesspecialprivilegesforthemselves,likebeingabletogo100
milesperhourwithoutlightsandsirenson,thereareofficers
thatabusetheprivilege. Thewitnessexpressedconcernthatthere
isn'tenoughconsiderationforthesafetyofthepublic.
TestifyinginpersononthebillwasJonStambaugh.
Writtentestimonyhasbeensubmittedforthisbill.Thefull
writtentestimonyandwitnessestestifyingonlinecanbefound
underTestimonyonthebillpageontheHousewebsite.