HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

152nd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 4

TO

HOUSE BILL NO. 329

AMEND House Bill No. 329 by deleting lines 8 and 9 in their entirety.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 329 on line 28 by deleting the phrase “a safe speed” and inserting in lieu thereof the phrase “ at least 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit, if the speed limit is 50 miles per hour or above, ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 329 on line 35 by deleting the numeral “ $500 ” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “ up to $250, or community service equivalent in value to the fine, to be calculated utilizing the Delaware minimum wage ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 329 on line 36 by deleting the numeral “ $1,000 ” as it appears therein and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “ up to $500, or community service equivalent in value to the fine, to be calculated utilizing the Delaware minimum wage ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 329 on line 37 by deleting the phrase “ a fine of $2000 and a 90-day suspension of their driver’s license ” and inserting in lieu thereof the following: “ up to $1,000, or community service equivalent in value to the fine, to be calculated utilizing the Delaware minimum wage ”.

FURTHER AMEND House Bill No. 329 by inserting after line 37 the following:

“Section 2. The Department of Transportation is directed to incorporate awareness and importance requiring this topic to be discussed as part of the curriculum in all driver’s training courses.

Section 3. The Department of Transportation will prepare written and online versions of the Delaware Driver’s Manual reflecting changes to the penalties within 1 year of enactment. Such manuals shall be displayed at all offices of the Department of Motor Vehicles.

Section 4. Companies, service organizations, political subdivisions, and first responders are encouraged to raise awareness of a driver’s duties under this section through signage, advertising, social media exposure, and printed and online educational material. Such distribution of educational material shall be distributed in the widest distribution possible.”.

SYNOPSIS

This amendment allows a sentence of community service to be assigned instead of a fine for an equivalent value of work based on the Delaware minimum wage. It also requires the Department of Transportation to update the Driver's Manual within a year of enactment of this Act and encourages other organizations to raise awareness of a driver's duties under this section. It also makes adjustments to the fines established in this Act. It also clarifies that a person must reduce the speed of their vehicle to at least 20 miles per hour less than the posted speed limit when approaching a stationary vehicle, when the speed limit is 50 miles per hour or above.