Committee hears testimony on House Bill 2095 to shift civil burden in crashes that injure vulnerable road users

Representative Reid, the prime sponsor of House Bill 2,095, told the Civil Rights and Judiciary Committee on Jan. 14 that the measure aims to protect pedestrians, cyclists and other ‘‘vulnerable users’’ by combining mandatory training for certain officers, prosecutors and judges with a rebuttable presumption of negligence for collisions that injure or kill such users in designated protected areas.

The bill would direct the Criminal Justice Training Commission and the Administrative Office of the Courts to develop materials and classes for covered law enforcement officers, prosecutors and judges; those covered would receive training within three months of starting employment and again every three years, and must complete the courses within six months of hire and every three years thereafter. The measure also would allow prevailing plaintiffs to recover actual damages, statutory damages of $1,500, reasonable attorney fees and, under a narrow standard, punitive damages if a defendant has previously been found to have injured or killed three or more vulnerable road users.

Reid framed the…