By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
A Senate bill signed into law in April by Governor Morrisey is aimed at protecting West Virginia’s First Responders. The law, under ARTICLE 5. CRIMES AGAINST THE PUBLIC JUSTICE, is titled Bystanders shall stand 25 feet back from first responders engaged in the lawful performance of their duties.
“I believe it’s a good Bill. It gives responders 30’ or 10 yards of working room on an emergency scene, upon a verbal request from the responders. That truly is not that much to ask,” Tucker County Director of Emergency Management Kevin White said “we deal with life and death situations daily and a little working room in a very high stress incident is important, along with the safety for all involved, the victims and the bystanders.”
While aimed at the entirety of the State of West Virginia, this law will effect first responders here in Tucker County. Under the Code, “First responder” is defined as: law enforcement, probation officer, fire fighter or emergency responder. Here in Tucker County this would include members of the State Patrol, Tucker County Sheriff’s Department, Parsons Police Department, Tucker County Probation Office and Community Corrections, all area fire departments and the Tucker County Ambulance Authority staff.
The Code specifies that following a verbal warning by a person that a person should “reasonably” recognize as a first responder, “who is engaged in the lawful performance of a legal duty,” the person is to remain 25 feet from the first responder.
Approaching or the intent to do the following are specified in the Code as violations: impede or interfere with the first responder’s ability to perform such duty; threaten the first responder with physical harm or harass the first responder.
Violations of this subsection are guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction are subject to fines of $50 to $500, up to a year in jail, or both.
The Bill was sponsored by Senator Mike Oliverio. White said he has known the Senator for many years and appreciates all he has done for first responders.
“I have known Mike for many years and his involvement in the protection of our responders is greatly appreciated,” White said.
The law is slated to go into effect June 1st.
