TWO OF THREE ELLENDALE FIRE CO. TRUCKS REPONDING TO A CALL FROM GREENWOOD WERE DAMAGED BY ROCKS BEING THROWN AT THEM.
Two bills pending in House committees would mandate stricter punishment for those that endanger first responders or damage their equipment.
State Rep. Jeff Hilovsky (R-Long Neck/Oak Orchard) is sponsoring House Bill 329, aimed at motorists who fail to yield the right-of-way of an emergency vehicle with its lights and sirens.
State Rep. Jesse Vanderwende (R-Greenwood/Bridgeville) said he decided to offer House Bill 323 to expand the crime of “criminal mischief” to include damaging an authorized emergency vehicle performing its duties.
Hilovsky said too many motorists flout the law, drive inattentively and put others at unacceptable risk,” Rep. Hilovsky said.
“This bill makes an appropriate, dramatic statement that I think will get their attention,” he said.
The fine for a first offense would more than triple the fine, from $150 to $500; a second violation would jump from $300 to $1,000; third offenses bring a $2,000 fine and a 90-day driver license suspension.
“It seems that ever since the pandemic, more motorists have harbored increased contempt for obeying our traffic laws,” Rep. Hilovsky said.
“Not a week goes by where I do not hear constituents making this observation. This is even more problematic when first responders are on their way to an emergency.”
The bill is assigned to the House Public Safety & Homeland Security Committee which meets 11 a.m. Tuesday.
Responders’ vehicles hit by rocks
Vanderwende said he decided to author House Bill 323 following an incident in his district last November.
Individuals throwing rocks damaged five fire vehicles when six Delaware and Maryland municipalities responded Nov. 13 to a blaze at New Process Fibre Co., Greenwood.
“This wasn’t just malicious vandalism” he said. “It was an act of violence that endangered firefighters and motorists, interfered with emergency response, and damaged equipment vital to public safety.”
HB 323 would expand the crime of ‘criminal mischief’ to include damaging an authorized emergency vehicle performing its duties.
“This crime is as serious as it is inexcusable,” Rep. Vanderwende said. “The penalty should reflect that.”
Typically a Class G felony, criminal mischief is punishable by a maximum of 2 years in jail.
This legislation would increase the punishment for emergency vehicle criminal mischief to a class E felony, carrying a maximum of 5 years in prison.
HB 323 is currently pending action in the House Judiciary Committee 11 a.m. Wednesday.
