PROVISION OF HIGHWAY BILL A THREAT TO LAW ENFORCEMENT ATTENTION NAPO MEMBERS AND ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT

Intermodal Transportation Bill, S. 1173, Section 1126

Section 1126 of the Intermodal Transportation bill would call for a “Study of Use of Uniformed Police Officers on Federal-Aid Highway Construction Projects”.  The section calls for (a) In General – in consultation with the states and state transportation departments, the Secretary shall conduct a study on the extent and effectiveness of use by states of uniformed police officers on Federal-aid highway construction projects.  Furthermore, it states that (b) The Report – not later than 2 years after the date of enactment of this act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a), including any legislative and administrative recommendations of the Secretary.

The end result of this report could pose a huge threat to police officers’ salaries derived from overtime, and could lead to higher instances of police officers forced to moonlight in order to pay their bills.

Also of grave concern is the potential impact it could have on highway safety, unnecessarily endangering the general welfare of our nations’ motorists.  Having a law enforcement officer on the site of a construction project helps to ensure the safety of workers and motorists operating near highway construction sites.  Officers provide the professional training and access to communications needed to deal with an emergency situation.  Motorists are more apt to slow down when in sight of a uniformed officer (in or out of a police cruiser) than a civilian flagger.  Throughout recent years, many flaggers have been injured or killed by careless speeding motorists.  The best way to curtail such incidents and to alleviate the potential dangers of highway construction is to have a uniformed officer stationed at the construction site.

Please write Senator John Chafee?, Chairman of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, urging him to consider that the House bill, H.R. 2400, does not include this provision.  Urge him to consider this threat to public safety when determining the outcome of the House and Senate bills in conference committee.  Also, write your members of Congress alerting them to this potential threat to public safety.