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Senate Bill 1251, offered by state Sen. Adriane Johnson,
D-Buffalo Grove, would require motor vehicle laws and
regulations to be met when the ambulance or rescue vehicle speed
exceeds 25 miles per hour. The current law sets that speed at 40
miles per hour. The bill also calls for the siren to be on when
any pedestrian is present.
The bill is named after Donald (DJ) Stallworth III, who was
struck by an ambulance without its sirens while riding his
motorcycle.
Johnson explained her reasoning for the measure alongside
Stallworth's mother and other lawmakers on Thursday.
"In May of 2020, Donald Stallworth III's life was tragically
taken in Waukegan at the intersection of Lake Street and
Gennesse Street, just outside of my office," Johnson said.
"While the ambulance lights were on, the siren was not in use."
State Rep. Rita Mayfield, D-Waukegan, said the old way of doing
things in Illinois has not worked and that it is time for a
change.
"Relying on an ambulance company or paramedics to self-regulate
has not worked," Mayfield said. "That's why I am proud to be the
House sponsor of Senate Bill 1251, the Donald DJ Stallworth
Act."
State Sen. Rachel Ventura, D-Joliet, was brought to tears
speaking about the measure and urged lawmakers to pass the bill
to save lives.
"We have lost too many precious people to preventable
situations," Ventura said. "This bill shines a light on how
necessary it is to have these precautions so families like these
do not have to go through these painful moments."
The measure passed through the Senate last month and now awaits
further action from the House.
Andrew Hensel reports on issues in Chicago and
Statewide. He has been with The Center Square News since April
of 2021 and was previously with The Joliet Slammers.
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