A new law providing more protections to police, fire and EMS crews responding to emergencies on roadways has its roots in Amherst.
Gov. Tony Evers signed a new law Monday at the Amherst Fire District that provides a specific definition for “emergency or roadside response area," introduces new fines and bans cellphone use when driving near active emergency vehicles on the road.
The bill defines emergency response areas as within 500 feet of an emergency vehicle, either a vehicle with a visible signal or a tow truck with flashing red lights.
State Rep. Katrina Shankland, D-Stevens Point, wrote the legislation after Amherst's assistant fire chief, Brian Swan, contacted her in August 2018 following a crash into a fire truck in Waupaca. Swan and Amherst Fire Chief Victor Voss were the driving forces behind the bill, Shankland said.