HB 102 - PASSING STATIONARY VEHICLES 1:38:33 PM CHAIR RAMRAS announced that the next order of business would be HOUSE BILL NO. 102, "An Act relating to vacating lanes or slowing down for certain vehicles stopped along the side of a road." 1:39:25 PM KAREN LIDSTER, Staff to Representative John Coghill, Alaska State Legislature, relayed on behalf of Representative Coghill, sponsor, that HB 102 will provide greater protection for law enforcement and emergency services personnel who are performing official duties on single- and double-lane highways. Current law says that on a highway with two or more lanes in the same direction a driver approaching emergency vehicles performing official duties shall vacate the lane closest to the emergency vehicle or slow to a reasonable and prudent speed; this "or" clause has made the enforcement of the current law very difficult, she remarked, adding that the sponsor is seeking to clarify the law and make it enforceable so as to protect law enforcement and emergency services personnel who are out performing duties on the highway. She mentioned that committee packets include letters of support from the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the Public Safety Employees Association, Inc. (PSEA), and [the Alaska Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP)], as well as [several] zero fiscal notes. CHAIR RAMRAS mentioned that he has seen police officers, after pulling someone over to the side of the road, be passed by other drivers driving in the closest lane or at unsafe speeds; HB 102 will put some teeth into the current law and provide law enforcement and emergency services personnel with more protection. CHAIR RAMRAS, after ascertaining that no one else wished to testify, closed public testimony on HB 102. REPRESENTATIVE GRUENBERG referred to the term "impossible" as used on page 2, line 2, and questioned whether the meaning of that word would be encompassed under the term "unsafe", which is also used on page 2, line 2. He suggested that that portion of the bill could simply say in part, "prohibited by law or unsafe". In response to a question, he posited that it is not necessary to include the term, "impossible" in the bill. REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM expressed favor with the bill as currently written. CHAIR RAMRAS offered his belief that including the term, "impossible" would enhance the protection afforded to police officers and emergency services personnel, and thus he would prefer to keep that term in the bill. 1:44:49 PM REPRESENTATIVE DAHLSTROM moved to report HB 102 out of committee with individual recommendations and the accompanying zero fiscal notes. There being no objection, HB 102 was reported from the House Judiciary Standing Committee.