Great job by State Senator Toddy Puller in pushing this important piece of legislation, which was signed into law by Gov. McDonnell a bit earlier today (see press release below). It’s sad that it took a terrible tragedy – and several years of hard work by Sen. Puller – to get this legislation passed. Fortunately, it finally did pass, thanks in large part to Sen. Puller’s tenacity and perseverance. As a result, as Gov. McDonnell notes, “Virginia’s streets are safer.” And, as Sen. Puller points out, Ashley’s Law “will go far to save other lives in the future.” Thank you, Sen. Puller.
ALEXANDRIA – Governor Bob McDonnell today ceremonially signed SB 762, also known as “Ashley’s Law,” which requires emergency vehicles proceeding through a traffic intersection to flash emergency lights and either sound a siren or horn, or yield the right-of-way, before proceeding. This law is named in honor of Ashley McIntosh who was tragically killed in 2008 when her vehicle was struck by an emergency vehicle as it went through an intersection. The legislation was signed during an afternoon ceremony at Sherwood Regional Library in Alexandria.
More on the “flip,” including Sen. Puller’s comments.
Speaking about “Ashley’s Law,” Governor McDonnell remarked, “It is a sobering moment as I sign this legislation today that results from a tragic traffic accident that took the life of a young Fairfax woman with a bright future. We are constantly evaluating how we can improve public safety to protect our citizens, law enforcement and first responders. It is because of the care, concern and activism of Ashley’s family and friends that this change in the law has become a reality, and for that I commend the great work of everyone who advocated for the passage of this bill. Virginia’s streets are safer because of ‘Ashley’s Law.'”
Senator Toddy Puller (D-Fairfax County), who patroned the legislation, commented, “I am very pleased to have carried ‘Ashley’s Law.’ It took several years to get this passed and I am glad we were finally able to get overwhelming consensus on the bill. I hope that it will go far to save other lives in the future.”
Fairfax County Police Department Chief of Police Colonel David M. Rohrer, added, “The Fairfax County Police Department supported ‘Ashley’s Law’ because it puts the safety of the public and emergency responders first, as it should be. I’m pleased to say that our policies and the training our officers receive in emergency and response driving mirror this new law.“
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