Committee adopts amendment and advances bill allowing specified flashing lights in construction zones

Committee staff summarized HB2522 as a bill to permit highway construction and maintenance vehicles to display flashing white, amber and green lights in construction zones and flashing white and blue lights at night when workers are present. Representative Essex offered a two-part amendment—changing language to apply to trailers (rather than stationary vehicles) and to locate blue lights "within the area of and close to traffic"—which he said reflected discussions with law enforcement and the Kansas Highway Patrol.