SB 168

Abstract

According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, an estimated 42% of all face-to-face contact between individuals and law-enforcement officers occurred during a traffic stop. This Act requires the Department of Transportation (“Department”) to examine applicants for a driver’s license regarding their knowledge related to traffic stops by law-enforcement officers by including at least 2 questions on the subject in any examination given to applicants. This Act also charges the Department of Justice and the Office of Defense Services with collaborating to produce information to educate applicants regarding traffic stops by law-enforcement officers, which the Department must include in any document designed to educate applicants on the rules for driving a motor vehicle. Also, this Act makes clear that students in a State-approved driver education course must demonstrate knowledge related to traffic stops by law-enforcement officers. Also, this Act requires defensive driving courses approved by the Department to educate individuals in these courses on traffic stops by law-enforcement officers and to examine these individuals in the subject by including at least 2 questions on the subject in any examination given to the individuals. In addition, this Act takes effect on August 1, 2019, to provide time to implement its requirements. Finally, this Act makes technical corrections to conform existing law to the standards of the Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual.