944193BD4FE076C9872583D8006B3CA6 Hearing Summary

Representative Esgar introduced House Bill 19-1265 concerning the penalty for a person who passes a snowplow that is performing its service function in echelon formation with at least one other snow plow.  The bill changes the class of the traffic offense from a class B to a class A if a person passes a snowplow that is operated by a state, county, or local government; displaying its lights; and performing service in echelon formation with one or more snowplows.  The bill defines echelon formation as a diagonal formation with each plow behind and to the right or behind and to the left of the snowplow ahead.

Representative Soper made opening remarks about the bill. Representative Esgar showed a video of a driver passing a snowplow in echelon formation.

The committee questioned the bill sponsors about notifying citizens of the change in law, number of snowplows in an echelon formation, and reasonable, safe distance to drive near a snowplow.

Neal Retzer, representing the Colorado Department of Transportation, testified in support of the bill.

Mike Hohn, representing the Colorado State Patrol, testified in support of the bill.

The committee questioned the witnesses about traffic infractions, including fines and points for commercial and regular drivers; addition of the law  to the Colorado driver manual; safe distance for drivers behind snowplows; enforcement; laws about passing single snowplows; and  notification about the new law.

The bill sponsors made closing remarks about the bill.

The committee made closing remarks about the bill.