HOUSE BILL No. 4944

 

 

September 13, 2017, Introduced by Reps. Miller and Maturen and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

 

     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 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, or

 

amber 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, reduce his or her speed to 1/2 of the posted

 


speed limit if the vehicle is traveling on a roadway other than a

 

limited access freeway, or, if the vehicle is traveling on a

 

limited access freeway, 45 miles per hour, 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 and reduce his or her speed to 1/2 of the

 

posted speed limit if the vehicle is traveling on a roadway other

 

than a limited access freeway, or, if the vehicle is traveling on a

 

limited access freeway, 45 miles per hour, 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

 

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

 

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.