HR1379LRB098 23350 MST 62463 r


  
1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

  
 
2    WHEREAS, On December 23, 2000, Lt. Scott Gillen of the 
3Chicago Fire Department was struck and killed on the Dan Ryan 
4Expressway when a motorist recklessly drove through an accident 
5scene in which Lt. Gillen was assisting; and
  
 
6    WHEREAS, In 2002, the State of Illinois enacted Scott's Law 
7in honor of Lt. Gillen, which mandates that upon
approaching a 
8stationary
authorized emergency
vehicle displaying warning

9lights, the approaching vehicle shall reduce the speed of
the 
10vehicle, yield the right-of-way
by changing lanes away
from the 
11authorized
emergency vehicle, and proceed with due
regard to 
12safety and
traffic conditions; and
  
 
13    WHEREAS, In recent years, the Illinois State Police have 
14lost Troopers Kyle Deatherage and James Sauter in the line of 
15duty and Troopers Doug Balder and Michael Cokins have been 
16seriously injured in accidents; and
  
 
17    WHEREAS, The Pontiac Police Department lost Officer Casey 
18J. Kohlmeier and his K-9 partner, Draco, in the line of duty; 
19and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The Bloomington and Hudson Fire Departments lost 
21Firefighter Christopher Brown in the line of duty; and
  
 
 
 
HR1379- 2 -LRB098 23350 MST 62463 r

1    WHEREAS, The Illinois Tollway lost Vincent Petrella in the 
2line of duty; and
 
3    WHEREAS, These individuals represent only some of the first 
4responders that continue to lose their lives while assisting 
5others along Illinois roadways; therefore, be it
  
 
6    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
7NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that 
8we encourage motorists who see flashing emergency vehicle 
9lights to remember Scott's Law and to move their vehicles over 
10to give those first responders an adequate area in which to do 
11their jobs; and be it further
 
12    RESOLVED, That we designate December 23, 2014 as "Scott's 
13Law Day" in the State of Illinois.