ARIZONA ACTION ALERT

Our concerns with this bill are as follows:

• Page 1, lines 29-31: It is often necessary for road guards to exceed the speed limit in order to advance to the front of the procession and capture intersections. Particularly when escorting on city streets, when there are multiple lights and intersections in a fairly short distance, it is impossible for PGR escorts to capture an intersection so the procession can proceed safely if they are not authorized to exceed the speed limit. 15 mph has worked in the past; it is also the figure allowed for authorized emergency vehicles; it seems to work and is really needed to remain if PGR is to safely escort a procession.
• Page 1, lines 44-45, continuing on to Page 2, lines 1-3: . It is sometimes necessary to travel either in a turn lane or shoulder in order to get in front of the procession and get to the next intersection, which is not allowed by Title 28 unless we have the authority as authorized emergency vehicles even just temporarily. When they are on a two-lane road (one lane going each way), it would be physically impossible for escorts to get in front of the procession and hold the next intersection without having this authority. And when Road Guards in front of the procession have opposing cars stopping on the side of the road (which they are supposed to do anyway) and it is safe to do so, on 2-lane roads they sometimes have to cross the double-yellow to get to the front. Again, something they prefer not to do, but when it is safe they sometimes do to get to the front.
• Page 3, Line 33. There is no provision for how much insurance needs to be carried. Rather than leaving that up to the discretion of the Board by administrative rule, we would suggest adding “in an amount of not less than 1 million dollars”.
• Page 13, lines 11-14 addresses fees. Most of the Board’s fees are set forth in the State Statute. However, this Section allows the State Board to set fees for licensing of military escort vehicles and drivers “in an amount to be determined by the Board”. We would request that the fees for military escort vehicles and drivers be waived in their entirety (since PGR is non-profit, doesn’t charge for their services, and they personally don’t receive remuneration or reimbursement for expenses).

1. We would request an exemption for PGR from ARS Section 32-1338 (the continuing education requirements). This seems more appropriate for funeral homes and embalmers, not for military escorts since PGR already does continuous rider training.
2. We would request an exemption for PGR from ARS Section 32-1339 (the fingerprinting requirement). This seems more appropriate for funeral homes and embalmers, not for military escorts, and adds another additional cost to volunteer PGR members.
3. Patriot Guard Riders are occasionally requested to perform escort services for first responders (primary fire and EMS; police generally do their own). If they were ONLY to be licensed as military escorts (rather than a dual-type certification), they would have to decline all requests to provide escort services to first responders – which they also provide at no charge.

Our mailing address is:
ABATE of Arizona
Attn: Lobbyist
7509 N 12th Street #200
Phoenix, AZ 85020