AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFETY DURING TRAFFIC STOPS.

Plain English Breakdown

The effective date is not explicitly stated in the provided text; it may depend on standard state law procedures or a future specified date.

Blue Envelope Program for Traffic Stop Safety

This law makes official the Delaware State Police program that provides a special blue envelope to help people with disabilities stay safe during traffic stops.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Delaware State Police and designated partners to provide a 'blue envelope' upon request for use by persons with disabilities.
• Sets rules requiring the envelope to be large enough to hold a driver's license, motor vehicle registration certificate, insurance identification card, and other relevant documents.
• Mandates that the outside of the envelope has writing identifying the holder as a person with a disability.
• Requires written guidance inside for law enforcement on how to interact with persons with disabilities.
• Includes written guidance for persons with disabilities on how to safely interact with law enforcement during traffic stops.

Who It Names or Affects

• Persons in Delaware with disabilities
• Delaware State Police and designated partners

Terms To Know

Blue Envelope Program

A program that provides a special envelope to help persons with disabilities during traffic stops.

Codifies

Writes an existing practice into official state law so it must be followed.

Limits and Unknowns

• The text does not specify the exact effective date of the program.
• The bill mentions 'designated partners' but does not list which specific groups are included besides the State Police.
• The source material does not explain the process for how a person requests or receives an envelope.

Official Summary Text

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFETY DURING TRAFFIC STOPS.
This Act codifies the Delaware State Police program that makes available a “blue envelope” for use by a person with a disability. The intent of this program is to increase safety for both officers and persons with a disability during a traffic stop. The envelope contains written information for officers regarding interacting with a person with a disability, as well as guidance for the person with a disability on safe interactions with law-enforcement during a traffic stop. The envelope is sized to be able to contain a driver’s license, motor vehicle registration card, and insurance identification card and other related documents.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Neal & Sen. Cruce

Reps. Heffernan, Chukwuocha, Morrison, Lambert, Snyder-Hall, Kamela Smith, Ross Levin, Berry, Gray, Morris, Ortega, Romer, Gorman; Sens. Sokola, Walsh, Hansen, Lockman, Pettyjohn, Poore, Seigfried, Hoffner, Brown, Buckson, Hocker, Huxtable, Lawson, Mantzavinos, Paradee, Pinkney, Richardson, Sturgeon, Townsend, Wilson

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE BILL NO. 277

AN ACT TO AMEND TITLE 21 OF THE DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO SAFETY DURING TRAFFIC STOPS.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE:

Section 1. Amend Part IV, Title 21 of the Delaware Code by making deletions as shown by strike through and insertions as shown by underline as follows:

Chapter 62. TRAFFIC STOP SAFETY

§ 6201. Blue Envelope Program.

(a) The Delaware State Police and designated partners shall provide and make available upon request an information envelope, or “blue envelope”, for use by a person with disabilities.

(b) The blue envelope must meet the following:

(1) Be capable of containing a person’s driver’s license, motor vehicle registration certificate, insurance identification card, and other relevant documents.

(2) Provide written information on the outside of the envelope identifying the envelope holder as a person with a disability.

(3) Provide written guidance for law-enforcement regarding interactions with a person with a disability.

(4) Provide written guidance for a person with a disability for safely interacting with law-enforcement during a traffic stop.

SYNOPSIS

This Act codifies the Delaware State Police program that makes available a “blue envelope” for use by a person with a disability. The intent of this program is to increase safety for both officers and persons with a disability during a traffic stop. The envelope contains written information for officers regarding interacting with a person with a disability, as well as guidance for the person with a disability on safe interactions with law-enforcement during a traffic stop. The envelope is sized to be able to contain a driver’s license, motor vehicle registration card, and insurance identification card and other related documents.