Legislator proposes teaching new drivers about traffic stops
It only takes one wrong move for a routine traffic stop by a police officer to go south. This is especially true for novice drivers, which is why local Representative Joseph McNamara (D-Dist. 19 Warwick, Cranston) has submitted legislation requiring driver’s ed courses to provide lessons on what to do when being pulled over.
McNamara, who is the chairman of the House Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, said he envisions students in driver’s ed participating in role play, creating possible scenarios drivers may face and guiding them through how to respond.
“I think it’s extremely important both for kids and police officers,” said McNamara. “We can all do a better job.”
If you’re stopped at night, you’re supposed to turn on your interior light. According to McNamara, now a retired educator, hundreds of citations have been issued to drivers who fail to take this step during nighttime traffic stops. You should always keep your hands visible to the officer, put your windows down, place your hands on the wheel and stay in your vehicle unless told oth- erwise. These steps seem commonplace to experienced drivers, but knowing these procedures could save a life.
“There’s a lot to the act of being pulled over, what you should do and not do, and also there’s value in teaching young people the seriousness of this event,” he said. “The responsibility that they have as drivers.”
He said educating drivers on this topic “requires education and can have a tremendous positive benefit.” His bill (2018-H 7194) would also require driver’s ed courses to inform drivers of their rights during a traffic stop, pursuant to Chapter 21.2 of the Comprehensive Community Police Relationship Act of 2015.
He has seen the “inappropriate” responses teens sometimes have when being pulled over - reaching for the glove box before being asked for registration, having unruly passengers who aren’t cooperating with
directions. He envisions students in driver’s ed being taught about considering more carefully who they are getting into vehicles with.
“I can remember my former students just reacting horribly to being pulled over,” said McNamara. “Very inappropriate responses. There are protocols and procedures drivers have to
follow when they are pulled over and they’re for the safety of the drivers, passengers and officers.”
If you’re not confident a passenger can follow the rules of safety in the vehicle, then maybe they shouldn’t be in your car, says McNamara.
“It’s about emphasizing that drivers have a responsibility for the passengers in their cars,” he added.
About 13 or 14 years ago McNamara had a student who had gotten into trouble and
wound on arrested and later on probation. He got into a car when someone offered him a ride, and someone in the car had a weapon and fired at someone as they drove by. Everyone in the car was sentenced and the student spent time in the ACI.
“I tell my students he got into the wrong car,” he said. “I’m looking at it from the perspective of parents, educators and police officers.”
He has lost 12 students over the years to car acci- dents.
“One of the last students I lost was the straw that broke the camels back,” said McNamara. “He was a wonderful wonderful student who took an exit ramp, the car slipped and he was a novice driver. At that time you could get permit without a six month waiting period. That was an important step. This is also an important step.”
Last year AAA supported his driver’s ed legislation and he expects them to again this year. This will be the second year he submits the bill. It passed the House last June only to be sent to committee right before the Senate’s budget impasse.
The legislation is co-sponsored by Woonsocket Rep. Michael Morin, Cumberland Rep. James McLaughlin, as well as representatives Grace Diaz and Evan Patrick Shanley.