What is Jason's Law?

We are spending a great deal of time on safe parking for truck drivers.  With the new HOS, parking close to your most advantageous location is critical to a driver's success.  One piece of legislation that is mentioned often is Jason's law.  What is Jason's law?  Here is the story.

Truck driver Jason Rivenburg, kissed his 2-year old son and pregnant wife good-bye on Wednesday, March 4, 2009. He dropped a load in Virginia and then headed off to his second delivery in South Carolina. He was 12 miles away from his destination when he needed to pull off the road. He was ahead of schedule and trucks are not allowed to show up at delivery sites early. The only place he had to park was an abandoned gas station – he’d heard through the grapevine it was safe.

The grapevine was wrong. Jason was murdered in his truck that night. His killer stole $7.00. Thirteen days later, his wife Hope gave birth to twins.

Safe on the Road: Jason’s Law

Though truck drivers are mandated by federal law to pull off the road after 11 hours of driving, places for them to park overnight are few and far between. That’s how drivers like Jason end up in abandoned gas stations. 

Virtually, everything that we need to maintain our daily lives has been on a truck.  Truck drivers provide an essential service to this country. The least we can do is provide safe, accessible rest areas where they can park overnight without risking their lives.

Jason’s Law has received bi-partisan support in both the Senate and the House. H.R. 1803 is sponsored by U.S. Reps Paul Tonko (D-NY) and Erik Paulsen (R-MN), with signatures from 26 supporting congressman. In the Senate, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of NY brought forth S 1187.

Now we need your support to turn these bills into law.  Jason’s Law.