House approves ban on select riders in pickup truck beds

Farm and construction workers exempt from new laws that prohibits riding in the back of pick-ups

After a slew of amendments were attached exempting farm and construction workers, people 16 and over and volunteer search-and-rescue workers, some lawmakers were left shaking their heads.

Rep. David Gubow (D-Huntington Woods) summed it up: "Let me get this straight ... If you're under age 16 and you're not engaged in the course of employment and you're not on a search-and-rescue mission, then the driver of the vehicle could be subject to a civil infraction," he said.

"We're making a very baby step forward."

But others, like Rep. Don Gilmer (R-Augusta) said the bill "begs the question why we are trying to outlaw stupidity."

Rep. Deborah Cherry (D-Burton) introduced the bill in February, but it went nowhere until a fatal crash in Jackson County's Concord Township on July 29. Two women and nine children died in the crash, while two other children were critically injured.

Eight of the 11 who died were riding in the truck bed under a truck cap.

Police said the pickup truck driven by Elaine Jackson of Albion ran a stop sign on a dirt road and then collided with a dump truck towing a back hoe.

The accident, ranked the worst in state history, prompted a new effort to pass a bill that's languished in the Legislature since 1991.

Gilmer argued that in the latest case, Jackson broke three existing laws: she drove without a license, ran a stop sign and didn't put the children in safety belts.

"Maybe this fourth law would have made the difference. Maybe this law could have stopped this tragic accident, but I doubt it," Gilmer said.

Cherry expressed her disappointment after the 67-37 vote to adopt the amended measure.

"The one that really disappointments me is the age amendment ... because it's unsafe for everyone. It's an unsafe practice.

However, the amendments exempting farm and construction workers could make the bill more palatable to senators, who now get the bill.

Rep. Candace Curtis (D-Swartz Creek) reminded her colleagues that pickup trucks were never designed to haul human beings, but cargo. She said accidents could be avoided if drivers stuck to using pickups to haul things, not people.

"If this is a problem, then go buy a minivan," she said. "You can transport 10 people safely."

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