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Bill

Bill

S 3873

Permits members of Community Emergency Response Teams to perform traffic duties under certain circumstances.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Tony Bucco

Allows trained Community Emergency Response Team volunteers to direct traffic during emergencies when police are unavailable or overwhelmed.

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Law and Public Safety Committee
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WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 3873

Legislative bill overview

S 3873 authorizes Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members to perform traffic control and direction duties during emergencies when regular law enforcement is unavailable or overwhelmed. The bill establishes specific circumstances and likely training requirements under which these civilian volunteers can manage traffic flow at accident scenes, disaster areas, or other emergency situations.

Why is this important

Traffic management during emergencies is critical for emergency vehicle access, public safety, and preventing secondary accidents. This bill addresses potential gaps in emergency response capacity by leveraging trained civilian volunteers, which could reduce response times and improve overall emergency management—particularly in areas with limited police resources.

Potential points of contention

  • Liability and accountability – Questions about who bears legal responsibility if a CERT member's traffic direction causes accidents or injuries, and whether municipalities or the state would face liability exposure
  • Training and certification standards – Unclear what specific training qualifications CERT members must meet to safely direct traffic, and whether current CERT training is adequate for this expanded role
  • Scope limitations and oversight – The bill's reference to "certain circumstances" lacks clarity about exact conditions triggering authorization, creating potential for inconsistent application or mission creep
  • Public perception and authority – Concerns about whether drivers will respect traffic directions from civilian volunteers versus uniformed law enforcement, potentially undermining safety

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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