By Bob Katzen
Senate 39-0, approved and sent to the House a bill designed to improve interactions between police officers and persons with autism spectrum disorder during traffic stops. The measure, dubbed the “Blue Envelope Bill” would create a program giving people with the disorder the option to be given a special blue envelope that holds the person’s driver’s license, vehicle registration and insurance cards.
On the outside of the envelope there would be specific instructions for police officers on the driver’s diagnosis, impairments, triggers, emergency contact information and best practices for communicating. The bill is designed to enable the driver to quickly and easily hand the envelope to a police officer during a traffic stop.
“The Blue Envelope Bill makes our commonwealth a safer place for people who are neurodiverse,” said Senate sponsor Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton). “It moves us closer to equal opportunity and access for people of all abilities.”
“The Blue Envelope Bill would be a game changer for our family and for so many Massachusetts residents,” said Ilyse Levine-Kanji, an Executive Committee member of Advocates for Autism of Massachusetts. “Like many people with autism, my 27-year-old son Sam does not have any physical characteristics that indicate he has autism. In a stressful situation, where split second decisions must be made, I’m relieved that a police officer could see a blue envelope in Sam’s car and immediately understand that any unusual behavior or speech pattern is a result of his autism. This bill could thereby dramatically decrease the possibility of a tragic misunderstanding.”
“Massachusetts police officers conduct thousands of traffic stops each year,” said Tyrone Parham, UMass Amherst Chief of Police. “While most of these interactions are relatively ‘routine,’ officers do not know who they are interacting with before the traffic stop so they proceed with caution. Each driver reacts differently when they are pulled over by the police. As a number of communities across the commonwealth have already rolled out the current voluntary Blue Envelope Program, I’ve heard nothing but successes from both the police and motorists. The early rollout prior to the law being in effect shows the commitment and importance of this initiative, and the passage of this legislation is instrumental to continuing to bridge the communication gap for both motorists and police officers.”
(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)
Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes