House approves McNamara bill on driver's ed training

Posted 5/24/18

The House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) that would require driver's education courses to include lessons on what drivers should do if pulled over by a law enforcement

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House approves McNamara bill on driver's ed training

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The House of Representatives has passed legislation introduced by Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston) that would require driver's education courses to include lessons on what drivers should do if pulled over by a law enforcement officer.

The bill would also require driver's instruction courses and tests to include instruction and information on the rights of drivers during a traffic stop. The measure now moves to the Senate for consideration.

"Anytime you're pulled over by a police officer, it can be very stressful, regardless of the reason," said McNamara, chairman of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare. "Knowing the proper protocol of a traffic stop, including how to respond, act courteously and provide the proper information, along with knowing your rights in those situations will serve to make the traffic stop less difficult. Law enforcement officers know what they want to see – window rolled down, hands on wheel, no sudden movements – new and young drivers would benefit by learning this as well."

The legislation would require driver's education courses to include material pertaining to a driver's rights pursuant to the Comprehensive Community-Police Relationship Act of 2015. In addition to a ban on racial profiling, that law also requires law enforcement officials to explain the reason for the stop, and prohibits searches of a vehicle unless there exists reasonable suspicion or probable cause of criminal activity.

"In addition to knowing how to act during a traffic stop, we also want to empower drivers to know their rights," explained Representative McNamara. "In some cases, law enforcement practices may have the unintended effect of promoting racially disparate stops and searches. The use of race or ethnicity in determining whether to pull someone over is not just improper, it's illegal. It also severely damages the law enforcement system."

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