[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6325739,"mediaKeyId","2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af","parentId",2331983,"title","Nevada hearing considers making Move Over violations that kill or gravely injure first responders a felony","audioSeconds",2442,"startMs",167000,"endMs",2609000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af&start=167&end=2609","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af/thumbnail_167000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6325739/Nevada/Nevada-hearing-considers-making-Move-Over-violations-that-kill-or-gravely-injure-first-responders-a-felony","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325739-c6992f7e5b91b0126ced007f4a754aa7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171768&Signature=RrJw3VMxE~xvXSBk0o2o44J~czszDnFcp4hP4YC4Ucnzad50hJxXIySwSFl0-Ot2n7MHWMgwJ5-BaMBgywCsduoZij4fxubU8BHeQ08d32IwnVqsooU6ukn9-9XDXMAs7GKontzc3XdTbeM-oPYMLcJ-EOekiYVUi2q7~d12sRXG~lk5XIGy5~hj1imNf7v2-GDzQoRB38lSvU3YuRNW-dzXVszTeR1mk-NTVqKGB0flNBvAIvDypG9FRSdFFm2EjJTTEvW0B9GKNnDboBMfhz11nVwHwUjqu~dm2OwHX0JONSCcChKW49S-AIzWKY00qa2Uzo0fT~raKhJYGu3ljQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Nevada Legislature","date","2025-02-18T00:00:00Z","article","Assembly Bill 54 would increase penalties for drivers who fail to take legally required precautions when approaching traffic incidents, elevating Move Over violations that cause serious injury or death of a first responder to a category B felony punishable by one to six years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $5,000. The bill’s primary presenters, Colonel Patrick Conway, chief of the Nevada Highway Patrol, and Captain Nathan Peterson of the Nevada Patrol, framed the measure as a response to recent roadside fatalities, including Sergeant Michael Abate and Trooper Alberto Felix.

The bill’s backers say stronger penalties will save lives. \"This is not about intent. It is about responsibility,\" Captain Nathan Peterson said during his presentation. He described AB 54 as \"a promise to protect those who protect us\" and said the proposal targets negligent conduct — drivers who fail to slow down or move over — rather than only willful conduct. Peterson and others told the committee the Move Over law already requires drivers to slow, proceed with caution and avoid adjacent lanes when safe to do so; AB 54 would reclassify negligent violations that result in death or serious injury and add mandatory sentencing guidelines.

The measure drew broad support from law enforcement and first‑responder groups. Mike Cathcart, representing the city of Henderson, the Nevada District Attorneys Association, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, Nevada Police Union, Clark County, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, towing and trucking groups, and firefighter representatives all testified in favor, saying the bill would provide greater accountability and deterrence. Arlene Felix, the widow of Trooper Alberto Felix, told the committee, \"My world shattered when my husband was taken from us,\" and asked lawmakers to \"please pass AB 54. Do it for my husband, Trooper Felix. Do it for Sergeant Abate.\"

Committee members pressed presenters on the bill’s relationship to existing statutes. Assembly Member Roth noted that reckless‑driving statutes already criminalize conduct that causes death and asked how AB 54 differs. Captain Peterson and Lieutenant Colonel Martin Malesco told the committee the difference is in the mental state the statutes target: reckless‑driving provisions address willful or wanton disregard, while AB 54 is intended to address negligent failures to follow the Move Over law. \"The move over law has a number of different things tied to it,\" Peterson said; \"those that fail to do that are neglectful in what their responsibilities are as they approach a traffic incident. That's where the difference lies for us.\" Malesco added that speed or other intentionally dangerous acts could still be prosecuted under reckless‑driving statutes.

Opponents, including Paloma Guerrero of the Carson City Public Defender's Office and Angela Knott of the Washoe County Public Defender's Office, urged caution. Guerrero argued AB 54 \"creates a strict liability situation\" that could criminalize accidental conduct — for example, a driver with a medical emergency — and said the conduct sought by supporters is already covered by reckless‑driving law. Knott said the bill \"removes the why\" from prosecutions and shifts burdens in ways that could send people to prison for accidents; both public‑defender witnesses offered language they said would narrow the bill and said they would withdraw opposition if that amendment were adopted.

Presenters cited national and state statistics during the hearing. Captain Peterson cited a 2023 nationwide figure — 46 first responders killed in struck‑by incidents — and referenced National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reporting showing Move Over laws exist in all 50 states. Presenters also described enforcement challenges: troopers on scene cannot always leave to stop violators, and many enforcement contacts arise only when additional officers are available.

The committee heard emotional testimony from families and first responders and received technical questions from members about application of the statute, data collection and exceptions when drivers cannot safely move over. No committee vote occurred at the hearing; the sponsor and department representatives concluded with requests for committee support and said they remain available for follow‑up questions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","2/18/2025 - Assembly Committee on Judiciary","oneSentenceSummary","Assembly Bill 54 would increase penalties for drivers who fail to take legally required precautions when approaching traffic incidents, elevating Move Over violations that cause serious injury or death of a first responder to a category B felony punishable by one to six years in prison and fines of $2,000 to $5,000.","taxTitle","2025 Legislature NV, Nevada","taxId",78440,"location","Nevada","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325729,"‘Jaya’s Law’: lawmaker seeks to re‑criminalize wrong‑way driving after fatal crash",323,3014000,3337000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af&start=3014&end=3337","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af/thumbnail_3014000.jpg","/articles/6325729/Nevada/Jayas-Law-lawmaker-seeks-to-recriminalize-wrongway-driving-after-fatal-crash","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325729-49417e2b7390f251f8a7354711b28a99/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171768&Signature=fGllkloziq4X6U2AGHH8mToWznVn70tfJa26fX2ds5xAt~cB~DhzsPXG2CkXUEIob3In8U3lgLE9ghz7jRWnB9qr3csQiani2eKL-8N-Z5DzBv9btQ5x-rCljj-OjilriQbA2eHzxP7SLHQUc28wExfQcosItm8G3TwpX00~FNhjCDNSVheclpvm0TruHCQiP0xXRcLmNotcndfJqFhHJ1rrbw2vDGz2NedOP09lloBm68-RCrUKddLWbr7aNVkslX76E2874htXnF7W4Dg0ypxAUCWktwGwDzylOy9Xmt9X8ButIXnUZ-OX85ROPBHZMBJTz8YbsAAGtf5VUyQzWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assembly Bill 111, introduced by Assembly Member Brian Hibbetts as \"Jaya's Law,\" would restore criminal penalties for driving the wrong way on a divided highway by making the offense a misdemeanor. Hibbetts said the bill was prompted by a December 9, 2023 wrong‑way crash on U.S. 95 that killed three people, including his constituent’s 3‑year‑old granddaughter, Jaya Brooks. He told the committee the existing statute (NRS 484B.227) is a civil infraction as of January 2023 and that AB 111 would return the conduct to criminal status in order to increase public awareness and deterrence.

\"AB 111 simply makes driving the wrong way on a divided highway a misdemeanor,\" Assembly Member Brian Hibbetts told the committee. Hibbetts supplied dispatch and crash data: Las Vegas‑area dispatch searches showed 634 reported wrong‑way drivers in 2024 for one jurisdiction; the Nevada Highway Patrol reported 731 wrong‑way calls statewide in 2024 and said those calls included 123 wrong‑way crashes that produced 49 fatalities. Hibbetts said the problem is frequent and often does not result in criminal charges because the statute was made civil in prior legislation.

Family members and first responders urged passage. Jan Brooks, the victim’s father, described the personal loss: \"I won't get another birthday, another second to speak with her,\" and said his daughter’s death leaves a permanent void. Andrea Rainey, Jaya’s grandmother, described the crash’s impact and asked lawmakers to act on behalf of families and communities. The committee also heard support from law‑enforcement groups, including the Las Vegas Police Managers and Supervisors Association, the Las Vegas Police Protective Association, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department, the Nevada District Attorneys Association and the Nevada Police Union, as well as city and county representatives and firefighter organizations.

Supporters argued that making wrong‑way driving a criminal offense would strengthen deterrence and public awareness; the sponsor noted prosecutorial discretion would remain for charging decisions and that misdemeanor status would allow prosecutors to pursue criminal cases when appropriate. No organized opposition appeared at the hearing. The committee closed the hearing after testimony; no vote was taken that day.","Assembly Bill 111 would make wrong‑way driving on divided highways a misdemeanor; sponsor and families of victims said the change would increase public awareness and deterrence after a December 2023 crash that killed three people, including a 3‑year‑old.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6325734,"Committee weighs AB 55 to update crash reporting and broaden coroner toxicology testing",1840,2649000,4489000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af&start=2649&end=4489","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2331983-75bfc67421215f437cef3894ca01d5af/thumbnail_2649000.jpg","/articles/6325734/Nevada/Committee-weighs-AB-55-to-update-crash-reporting-and-broaden-coroner-toxicology-testing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6325734-649a6919cbcade6bdfad9952b88314e2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171768&Signature=GyoyhShz6R~EvXL-tmKE0X19GWhXhvZsFVhG-LtDsw9V0rT9boG~qu6wFkDg4LZR6USYEy-6b0U-Sh4jCOzZcaPeAoyuTMYUwjiUzA~IXAShJMx7NfPpoT~Y92JALCmSX-2RAsw-9~fMbyhU14OBdVwPn~Ly0f0vlIR~TYqggt5wzl8OxJd-bDtx9sra4ckkKsOcQBifDkPCgx1uNNGLT3W7eDrPORDxc3YaQlzpCe5LaU1rXKOEiEU44Y8BRiJHdUHFLm5jEP0UbbomwatnrGrjhx69-HZOJVEQwiXzgF6uDgfhbusfAEMIMqjRGs7Gw4x8Py~pAW5ZCAqfs6Tgjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Assembly Bill 55 would amend Nevada statutes to broaden toxicological testing and reporting for deceased motor‑vehicle‑crash victims and clarify electronic crash‑reporting timelines and the Nevada Department of Transportation’s role in statewide crash data. Amy Davey, director of the Nevada Office of Traffic Safety, told the Assembly Judiciary Committee the bill codifies current practice used to meet federal reporting standards, including the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS).

\"There are 2 primary components to AB 55,\" Amy Davey said: adding drug toxicology testing and reporting for crash victims, and clarifying methods and timelines for crash reports while recognizing NDOT as a primary stakeholder in the safety‑data partnership. Davey presented data showing that for a full year of records the state received toxicology testing in roughly 90 percent of deceased crash‑victim reports and said proposed changes would align statute with practice and federal requirements.

Medical‑examiner witnesses told the committee the proposal reflects current workflows. \"Our office already performs more complete, testing that is relevant to drugs that are currently being abused, than are specified in law,\" said Dr. Laura Knight, chief medical examiner and coroner for the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner's Office. Melanie Rouse, director of the Clark County Coroner's Office, agreed and said accreditation standards already require post‑mortem testing in many cases. Both witnesses and the sponsor urged replacing an outdated statutory list of \"prohibited substances\" with language — discussed in amendments — that would allow coroners to order panels reflecting modern drug trends such as fentanyl and other opioids. Presenters and coroners also urged removing the statutory 8‑hour testing requirement and a 30‑hour reporting deadline, saying those timelines are not practicable and do not reflect current laboratory or scene realities.

The bill would also acknowledge that the Department of Public Safety uses an electronic crash reporting system and that crash reporting begins within 10 days after the crash or a victim’s death to satisfy federal early‑notification requirements. Davey said naming the Nevada Department of Transportation as a collaborator in statute would formalize an existing data partnership: NDOT updates state street files, assists with geolocation, and consumes crash data for safety analysis.

Committee members asked technical questions about workload and lab capacity. When Assembly Member LaRue Hatch asked if broader toxicology panels would increase workload, Dr. Knight replied that Washoe County already performs testing for relevant abused drugs and that the bill would bring statute into conformity with existing practice. Amy Davey noted Nevada lacks a centralized forensic toxicology laboratory and relies on local coroner labs; that reality affects data collection for non‑fatal testing. Dr. Knight also addressed concerns about post‑mortem timing and results, saying: \"The difference between 8 hours and 24 hours and even 36 hours is not a big difference,\" because metabolic breakdown ceases at death and coroners account for post‑mortem redistribution when interpreting results.

Clark County said it was technically in opposition under committee rules but is working with the sponsor on amendments; no organized opposition was recorded. Presenters closed by thanking the committee and the coroner offices for testimony. The committee received no vote at the hearing; presenters said they provided an amendment package addressing timelines and the definition of substances.","Assembly Bill 55 would require coroner toxicology reporting to include commonly abused drugs and align Nevada crash reporting timelines and electronic reporting with federal FARS requirements; coroners and traffic safety staff told the committee the changes codify current practice and remove impractical statutory timelines.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Nevada hearing considers making Move Over violations that kill or gravely injure first responders a felony

‘Jaya’s Law’: lawmaker seeks to re‑criminalize wrong‑way driving after fatal crash

Committee weighs AB 55 to update crash reporting and broaden coroner toxicology testing