Bill Summary
The "Next Gen Road Safety Act" aims to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 by allowing law enforcement agencies to utilize Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants for acquiring equipment and technology designed to prevent and de-escalate high-speed vehicular pursuits. The legislation specifically includes provisions for funding items such as vehicle-disabling systems, police bumper systems, and drones. The goal is to enhance road safety and reduce the risks associated with high-speed chases, which can endanger both law enforcement personnel and the public.
Possible Impacts
The "Next Gen Road Safety Act" could affect people in several ways, particularly in relation to the prevention and management of high-speed vehicular pursuits. Here are three examples:
1. **Enhanced Public Safety**: By providing law enforcement agencies with grants to procure advanced equipment and technology, such as vehicle-disabling systems and drones, the legislation aims to reduce the risks associated with high-speed pursuits. This could lead to fewer high-speed chases, resulting in a decrease in accidents, injuries, and fatalities for both civilians and law enforcement officers during such incidents.
2. **Community Relations and Trust**: The focus on de-escalation through the use of technology may help improve the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve. If police are seen as prioritizing safety and minimizing violent confrontations, public perception of law enforcement could improve, fostering trust and cooperation between police and community members.
3. **Resource Allocation and Training**: The act may lead to changes in how law enforcement agencies allocate resources and train their personnel. With funding for new technologies, police departments may need to invest in training officers on the effective use of these tools, which could improve overall law enforcement efficacy. However, this might also create disparities if some departments have more access to funding and resources than others, potentially affecting the uniformity of safety measures across different regions.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8217 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8217
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
authorize law enforcement agencies to use COPS grants for equipment to
assist in the prevention and de-escalation of high-speed vehicular
pursuits.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 9, 2026
Ms. Friedman (for herself and Ms. Lee of Florida) introduced the
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
authorize law enforcement agencies to use COPS grants for equipment to
assist in the prevention and de-escalation of high-speed vehicular
pursuits.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Next Gen Road Safety Act''.
SEC. 2. GRANTS FOR EQUIPMENT TO ASSIST IN THE PREVENTION AND DE-
ESCALATION OF HIGH-SPEED VEHICULAR PURSUITS.
Section 1701(b) of title I of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe
Streets Act of 1968 (34 U.S.C. 10381(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (23), by striking ``and'' at the end;
(2) in paragraph (24), by striking the period at the end
and inserting ``; and''; and
(3) by adding at the end the following:
``(25) to procure equipment, technology, or support systems
(including vehicle-disabling systems, police bumper systems,
and drones) to assist law enforcement agencies in the
prevention and de-escalation of high-speed vehicular
pursuits.''.
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