HR1379 98TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HR1379 LRB098 23350 MST 62463 r

HOUSE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On December 23, 2000, Lt. Scott Gillen of the Chicago Fire Department was struck and killed on the Dan Ryan Expressway when a motorist recklessly drove through an accident scene in which Lt. Gillen was assisting; and

WHEREAS, In 2002, the State of Illinois enacted Scott's Law in honor of Lt. Gillen, which mandates that upon approaching a stationary authorized emergency vehicle displaying warning lights, the approaching vehicle shall reduce the speed of the vehicle, yield the right-of-way by changing lanes away from the authorized emergency vehicle, and proceed with due regard to safety and traffic conditions; and

WHEREAS, In recent years, the Illinois State Police have lost Troopers Kyle Deatherage and James Sauter in the line of duty and Troopers Doug Balder and Michael Cokins have been seriously injured in accidents; and

WHEREAS, The Pontiac Police Department lost Officer Casey J. Kohlmeier and his K-9 partner, Draco, in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, The Bloomington and Hudson Fire Departments lost Firefighter Christopher Brown in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, The Illinois Tollway lost Vincent Petrella in the line of duty; and

WHEREAS, These individuals represent only some of the first responders that continue to lose their lives while assisting others along Illinois roadways; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we encourage motorists who see flashing emergency vehicle lights to remember Scott's Law and to move their vehicles over to give those first responders an adequate area in which to do their jobs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we designate December 23, 2014 as "Scott's Law Day" in the State of Illinois.