More government road workers gain protection against road rage
California Desk
August 13, 2009
Street and road workers confront not only the threat of oncoming traffic, but a constant barrage of bottles and abuse from enraged motorists.
A greater number of workers, who put their lives on the line every day to make our highways and roads safer for motorists, will get protection against such abuse thanks to a new law sponsored by District 62
Assembly Bill 561, recently signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, establishes the offense of assault or battery against all government workers engaged in the performance of his or her duties on county thoroughfares.
The law expands an existing protection for employees of the State Department of Transportation or a contractor of the agency. "Last year, the state passed legislation to protect Caltrans workers from assault," said Bob Blough, general manager of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association, which is a co-sponsor of the legislation. "But it did not include workers from local government who are facing the same challenge. We are grateful that Assemblymember Carter resolved that for us."
"The expansion of the highway protection law comes at a time when motorist impatience, aggressive driving and road rage appear to be on the rise," said Assemblymember Carter, who is chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Inland Empire Transportation Projects. "I am gratified that it may save lives."
The offense of assault or battery against the road worker is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The highway, road or street worker must be engaged in the performance of his or her duties, and the person committing the offense knows, or reasonably should know, that the victim is a highway worker engaged in the performance of his or her duties.
A greater number of workers, who put their lives on the line every day to make our highways and roads safer for motorists, will get protection against such abuse thanks to a new law sponsored by District 62
Assembly Bill 561, recently signed into law by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, establishes the offense of assault or battery against all government workers engaged in the performance of his or her duties on county thoroughfares.
The law expands an existing protection for employees of the State Department of Transportation or a contractor of the agency. "Last year, the state passed legislation to protect Caltrans workers from assault," said Bob Blough, general manager of the San Bernardino Public Employees Association, which is a co-sponsor of the legislation. "But it did not include workers from local government who are facing the same challenge. We are grateful that Assemblymember Carter resolved that for us."
"The expansion of the highway protection law comes at a time when motorist impatience, aggressive driving and road rage appear to be on the rise," said Assemblymember Carter, who is chairman of the Assembly Select Committee on Inland Empire Transportation Projects. "I am gratified that it may save lives."
The offense of assault or battery against the road worker is punishable by a fine not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000), or by imprisonment in a county jail not exceeding one year, or by both that fine and imprisonment. The highway, road or street worker must be engaged in the performance of his or her duties, and the person committing the offense knows, or reasonably should know, that the victim is a highway worker engaged in the performance of his or her duties.
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