New Law To Help Drivers With Autism or Hearing Problems
Photo credit: Christiana Ford
As of late, the topic of the police force and implementing safer restrictions on them to prevent unnecessary violence has been front of mind. The state of Michigan signed a new bill to allow drivers with autism or hearing problems to make their diagnosis visible when applying or reapplying for their driver’s license, state ID, enhanced ID, or registration. This will make it easier for the police to know if they’re talking to someone who has autism or hearing problems.
Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed the bill to create a “communication impediment” designation to go on vehicle registration, driver’s license, and state ID. This bill allows people to voluntarily sign up for hearing problems or autism but will not physically show up on your license or state ID. However, the police will be able to see them when they run your plate numbers through the law enforcement information network according to an article published in Lansing State Journal.
Xavier DeGroat, center, with law enforcement officers who attended his event on policing and autism. Photo credit: Xavier DeGroat
Xavier DeGroat, who was diagnosed with autism at age 4 and is the CEO of Xavier DeGroat Foundation, told FOX 47 that,
“I face being pulled over and I was very focus and fixated with a phone call and a police rushed me to answer his questions when he had me roll the window down. It made me very eager to disprove the mistreatment and allow other people with the same chan have better chances at getting what they need when pulled over with slower reaching them, and giving them more tones, and more social distance to allow the person on the spectrum to not be so stimulated.”
DeGroat told the Lansing State Journal that, “people with autism can be sensitive to loud noises, bright lights and being touched.” Therefore, when a police officer gets close to you it can make a person with autism nervous. This bill can make communication between both people effective when the officer is aware you have a communication issue. DeGroat hosted a forum on autism and policing to the police last spring. He wants other states to create a designation for their jurisdictions as well. He’s also created brochures and fliers for how police officers should approach a person with autism.
Allowing this bill to pass will help the police officers know if a driver will have a communication issue during an encounter. Colleen Allen, President of the Autism Alliance of Michigan told FOX 47 that, “this is a step in the process in ensuring that those encounters do not end up in a bad situation.
There have been times where police officers are not sure of a person’s diagnosis and don’t understand that they have communication issues. They’ve also seen some people resisting and don’t have an understanding of why that is. This bill will be “…a great resource for us undoubtedly,” DeWitt Township Police Chief Mike Gute told FOX 47.
The law goes into effect in July 2021.