Stupid Motorist Law ~ ~Monsoon Rains makes this law happen ! ! Flooded streets, etc.

Watching the Local News as I walk the tread mill -- at the Rec center - -early a.m.

I watch the clip "stranded motorist -- went across a flooded wash - - had to be rescued" !
My thought - - "Welcome to Arizona and to our Valley of the Sun !"

It happens every year at this time... our monsoon rain storms hit the valley and like magic -- people who are not accustomed to our RAINS and our FLOODS - -
just drive around like they know it all and know how to "drive through this" !
WRONG ! !
:confusion:

This evening -- I am hearing on the news about some where in Scottsdale -- flooded neighborhoods -- right - -!!
Eloy also had similar problems with flooding - - Around Maricopa, as well. :confusion:

Problem -- too many people swarmed into the Valley of The Sun - - back in the early-mid 2000's..The homes were built with a frantic - -and no proper drainage was prepared for all of the water that does fall in the desert areas - -
our Valley of the Sun.
Monsoon season & flooding & rains have been here forever...
The newer areas built up -- just did not build up with proper drainage....

Sun City gets it's share of rains also - - fortunately -- we are an older neighborhood -- as are many cities close by - -
old town Peoria -& old town Glendale - old town Surprise, etc.
it appears to effect the newer communities of the past 10-15 yrs. or so.

Then the motorist who fear no evil -- - Read on - -we have The Stupid Motorist Law - -- -

Of course - Common Sense - - works ! ! !! !

:frog:

Information taken from: (7-22-2013)
http://phoenix.gov/fire/safety/onthemove/motorist/

Arizona's "Stupid Motorist Law"[/B]
"28-910. Liability for emergency responses in flood areas; definitions"
________________________________________
A. A driver of a vehicle who drives the vehicle on a public street or highway that is temporarily covered by a rise in water level, including groundwater or overflow of water, and that is barricaded because of flooding is liable for the expenses of any emergency response that is required to remove from the public street or highway the driver or any passenger in the vehicle that becomes inoperable on the public street or highway or the vehicle that becomes inoperable on the public street or highway, or both.
B. A person convicted of violating section 28-693 for driving a vehicle into any area that is temporarily covered by a rise in water level, including groundwater or overflow of water, may be liable for expenses of any emergency response that is required to remove from the area the driver or any passenger in the vehicle that becomes inoperable in the area or the vehicle that becomes inoperable in the area, or both.
C. The expenses of an emergency response are a charge against the person liable for those expenses pursuant to subsection A or B of this section. The charge constitutes a debt of that person and may be collected proportionately by the public agencies, for-profit entities or not-for-profit entities that incurred the expenses. The person's liability for the expenses of an emergency response shall not exceed two thousand dollars for a single incident. The liability imposed under this section is in addition to and not in limitation of any other liability that may be imposed.
D. An insurance policy may exclude coverage for a person's liability for expenses of an emergency1.
E. For the purposes of this section:
1. "Expenses of an emergency response" means reasonable costs directly incurred by public agencies, for-profit entities or not-for-profit entities that make an appropriate emergency response to an incident.
2. 2. "Public agency" means this state and any city, county, municipal corporation, district or other public authority that is located in whole or in part in this state and that provides police, fire fighting, medical or other emergency services.
3. 3. "Reasonable costs" includes the costs of providing police, fire fighting, rescue and emergency medical services at the scene of an incident and the salaries of the persons who respond to the incident but does not include charges assessed by an ambulance service that is regulated pursuant to title 36, chapter 21.1, article 2
response under this section.


Moral of this story - - Be careful while driving thru a Monsoon Storm or even aftermath - flood waters.

 

I just heard on the news this a.m. that the bus that over turned up near Bullhead City/Kingman area a few days ago --
the driver might get sited with this Stupid Motorist Law.
Those were some sad photos of the wreck that the T.V. reports showed on T.V.
Got to be careful when the monsoon storms are happening ! Lots of flood waters rush by !