OLYMPIA, Wash. - Lt. Mike Turcott says he almost died in 2007 when his side-view mirror was clipped off by a passing car while he was sitting in his patrol car writing a ticket.
"I heard a tremendous explosion," he said. "If I had been a few seconds earlier I would have opened the door, stepping out and would have been completely wiped out."
Paul Bressi has been driving a tow truck since the early 1980s. He and his co-workers have all had close calls while helping stranded drivers on the side of the interstate.
"Legs get smashed, people get killed really easy that way," he said. "I've had employees that finally just say they can't do it anymore."
Last year, 23 State Patrol vehicles were hit on the side of the state's highways.
Lawmakers hope a bill creating "emergency zones" will protect troopers and other first responders in their workplaces - the state's highways.
Under the proposed law, drivers who are caught speeding within 200 feet of a vehicle with flashing lights, including, police cars, tow trucks, and ambulances, would receive citations for double the standard speeding amount.
Drivers would be required to move out of the far right lane as long as it's safe.
And those who drive recklessly in those zones could face a $5,000 fine and lose their license for two months.
Paul Bressi has a message for anyone who thinks the bill goes too far.
"Just break down on the side of the freeway sometime. You'll see what it's like, your car is shaking and moving around. You'll see how scary it really is," he said.
Gov. Chris Gregoire is expected to sign the bill into law.
It's not clear when the law would go into effect, but the State Patrol would be responsible for educating informing drivers about the law before they start writing citations.
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