TROOPER CRAIG A. SCOTT MEMORIAL HIGHWAY
Senate Bill 940 (S-2) as reported from House committee
Sponsor: Sen. Curtis Hertel, Jr.
House Committee: Transportation and Infrastructure
Senate Committee: Transportation
Complete to 12-17-18 (Enacted as Public Act 470 of 2018)
SUMMARY:
Senate Bill 940 would amend the Michigan Memorial Highway Act to designate the portion of highway US-127 beginning at Exit 56 in Ingham County and extending south to the Jackson County line as the “Trooper Craig A. Scott Memorial Highway.”
The bill would take effect 90 days after its enactment.
Proposed MCL 250.1004c
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
According to committee testimony and the Michigan State Police Fallen Trooper Memorial, on February 9, 1982, Trooper Craig A. Scott was working traffic patrol on US-127 just south of the Ingham/Jackson County line when he observed a red 1974 Camaro speeding northbound. Trooper Scott gave pursuit and stopped the car south of Leslie, Michigan. He approached the driver to ask for his driver’s license and vehicle papers. The driver produced a Michigan identification card but no papers for the Camaro. (The driver and his front seat passenger had stolen the car in Ann Arbor four days earlier.) After receiving the identification, Trooper Scott attempted to file-check the driver but could not contact the post on his radio. He recontacted the driver, placed him under arrest, took him from the car, and handcuffed him. While placing the driver in the patrol car, Trooper Scott left his back exposed to the Camaro. The front seat passenger exited the vehicle and shot Trooper Scott three times with a .38-caliber revolver from a distance of three to four feet. Trooper Scott died from his injuries. He was 28 years old.
Trooper Craig A. Scott had served with the Michigan State Police for four years and had previously served as Military Police in the United States Army for three years. He was the thirty-fifth Michigan State Police officer to die in the line of duty. Dedicating a portion of Highway US-127 would be an appropriate way to honor his commitment, his service, and his sacrifice to the citizens of Michigan.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Section 2 of the Michigan Memorial Highway Act indicates that the state transportation department shall provide for the erection of suitable markers indicating the name of the highway only “when sufficient private contributions are received to completely cover the cost of erecting and maintaining those markers.” As a result, the bill has no state or local fiscal impact.
POSITIONS:
The Michigan Department of Transportation has no position on the bill. (12-11-18)
Fiscal Analyst: William E. Hamilton
■ This analysis was prepared by nonpartisan House Fiscal Agency staff for use by House members in their deliberations, and does not constitute an official statement of legislative intent.