Timmons bill to improve law enforcement interaction with drivers with disabilities advances

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Aletia Timmons, D-Oklahoma City, passed HB 2977 out of the House Public Safety Committee. The measure authorizes Service Oklahoma to place a hidden disability indicator on the driver license or identification card upon the voluntary election of an applicant in order to improve law enforcement interactions.

The measure states that the hidden disability indicator must be discreet and standardized statewide and shall not create probable cause or reasonable suspicion. The bill also clarifies that the hidden disability indicator shall not be used for any reasons beyond official identification.

This bill is designed to improve communication between law enforcement and hearing impaired individuals in their interactions with each other, by giving the opportunity for hearing impaired persons to place a hearing impaired indicator on their drivers licenses.

The bill now heads to the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety Oversight.