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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, When motorists respect Scott's Law and move over, 
14it helps ensure the safety of those men and women who respond 
15to the scene; and
  
 
16    WHEREAS, In recent years, the Illinois State Police have 
17lost Troopers Kyle Deatherage and James Sauter in the line of 
18duty and Troopers Doug Balder, Michael Cokins, and Starlena 
19Wilson have been seriously injured in accidents; and
  
 
20    WHEREAS, The Pontiac Police Department lost Officer Casey 
21J. Kohlmeier and his K-9 partner, Draco, in the line of duty; 
 
 
HR0174- 2 -LRB099 06787 MST 26861 r

1and
  
 
2    WHEREAS, The Bloomington and Hudson Fire Departments lost 
3Firefighter Christopher Brown in the line of duty; and
  
 
4    WHEREAS, The Illinois Tollway lost Vincent Petrella in the 
5line of duty; and
 
6    WHEREAS, These individuals represent only some of the first 
7responders that continue to lose their lives while assisting 
8others along Illinois roadways; and
 
9    WHEREAS, Through continued public education about the 
10risks involved for public safety personnel on Illinois 
11roadways, these accidents can be reduced, saving the lives of 
12those who assist others; therefore, be it
  
 
13    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
14NINETY-NINTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
15encourage motorists who see flashing emergency vehicle lights 
16to remember Scott's Law and to move their vehicles over to give 
17those first responders an adequate area in which to do their 
18jobs; and be it further
 
19    RESOLVED, That we designate December 23, 2015 and December 
2023, 2016 as "Scott's Law Day" in the State of Illinois.