House Bill 2007 moves on to the Senate
On Tuesday March 14, 2017, the West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bill that would eliminate the courtesy patrol.
House Bill 2007, if passed by the Senate and signed into law, would terminate the courtesy patrol program, abolish The Courtesy Patrol Fund and take any balances remaining in The Courtesy Patrol Fund and transfer them to the State Road Fund. This would also prohibit the Parkways Authority from operating a courtesy patrol program in connection with any of its projects.
The fiscal note on the bill reports that the elimination of the courtesy patrol would add over $4 million into the state budget. As West Virginia is in a budget crisis, some legislators are willing to make difficult cuts to save money but others are wondering if the cuts to the services and job losses are worth it.
When discussion on the bill broke out on the floor of the House, many different points were brought to the delegates’ attention.
Delegate Hamrick (R-Harrison), one of the bill’s sponsors, said that roadside assistance is available with most insurance plans. He also noted that instead of calling the courtesy patrol, one could call the assistance provider directly.
Delegate Kelly (R-Wood), mentioned that he and his wife had gotten a flat on Interstate 79 and the relief that they felt when they saw the white truck with yellow lights would be worth funding the program, for the rest of West Virginia to have access to that same relief.
Delegate E. Evans (D-McDowell), Minority Vice Chair of the House Committee on Roads and Transportation, warned the House not to pass the legislation.
“This is job killing legislation and will put 90 people in the unemployment line, 12 of those in McDowell county,” said Delegate Evans. “This bill particularly bothers me because in an Amber Alert situation, these are the primary guys out there on the road. You also want to know that someone will be there to help out yourself or a loved one if a vehicle breaks down. The elimination of this program would have State Police doing that and I want them out doing law enforcement.”
The bill’s lead sponsor, Delegate Gearhart (R-Mercer) said, “The bill gets rid of a service outside of the role of state government and it takes a $5-million-dollar line item and uses the funds to help the state roads.”
The bill passed the House with a vote of 58 yeas, 41 nays, and one absent and not voting.
The bill is making its way through the Senate and currently pending in the Senate Finance Committee.
