Rep. Marvin Lim Applauds Final Passage of Traffic Safety Legislation by the Georgia General Assembly

ATLANTA - State Representative Marvin Lim (D-Norcross) applauds the recent final passage of House Bill 1161, which would make several updates to enhance roadway safety, clarify enforcement standards and implement measures affecting drivers, law enforcement and pedestrians.

"Road safety is our top transportation issue, and clarity and consistency in our laws of the road lead to safer, more equitable outcomes for all involved, including drivers, law enforcement and bystanders," said Rep. Lim. "I want to thank Sgt. Michael Etheridge from the Gwinnett County Police Department for his expertise on traffic stop safety; this bill would not have started without him. I look forward to seeing this legislation signed into law."

HB 1161 would require drivers to move over to the furthest right-hand side of the roadway, if safe, for traffic stops by law enforcement. It would also create an objective, quantifiable standard for sentencing under existing laws regarding fleeing from state law enforcement. The legislation would also make updates related to automated traffic enforcement safety devices in school zones. Such devices would be required to display an accurate depiction of the driver's speed and would be required to have yellow flashing lights when the device is operable to issue citations. Local governing bodies that apply for a permit for placement upon any highway with more than two lanes must also demonstrate a prior history that justifies such need, and permits would not be issued for highways with four lanes that do not have a crosswalk, further incentivizing "safe street" design features to complement enforcement. Localities that utilize such devices would also be required to submit an annual report on the revenue generated to the Department of Public Safety. Finally, the legislation would permit darker window tinting to remain consistent with neighboring Southern states.

HB 1161 has been sent to the governor for consideration.

The full text of HB 1161 may be found here.

Representative Marvin Lim represents the citizens of District 98, which includes a portion of Gwinnett County. He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2020 and currently serves on the Agriculture & Consumer Affairs, Appropriations, Appropriations Subcommittee on Public Safety, Health and Retirement committees.

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