Whitmer signs bills to honor fallen MSP Trooper Joel Popp and make roads safer

MICHIGAN (WNEM) – A series of six bipartisan bills were signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to make Michigan’s roads safer, including one to honor Michigan State Trooper Joel Popp, who was killed in the line of duty during a traffic stop.

The bills were signed on Tuesday, December 10, as announced by Whitmer’s office.

House Bill 5717 designated Willard Road extending north to Riverview Road on I-75 in Saginaw County as the Trooper Joel E. Popp Memorial Highway. The bill honors Popp’s life; he was killed Jan. 24 during a traffic stop at northbound I-75 and Birch Run Road. MSP said he was struck by another vehicle and later died at Hurley Hospital.

Joel Popp, his wife and daughter.(Stefanie Popp)

Related: 2 people charged in death of MSP Trooper

“A portion of I-75 will now bear Popp’s name and recognize him and his work and dedication as a soldier and a family man – may he always be remembered,” the state representative said. State Amos O’Neal, who sponsored the project. Invoice.

Bills 4132 and 4133 were signed to reduce accidents and protect construction workers by installing work zone safety cameras in marked areas of the roadway. According to Whitmer’s office, MSP has recorded more than 8,000 accidents related to construction work zones; 24 of them were fatal. Michigan will join 23 other states using the technology, which has been proven to reduce speeds and protect construction workers. These bills were sponsored by State Reps. Will Snyder and Mike Mueller.

Three other bills were signed to support schools and keep children safe by equipping school buses with a camera system to track violations if they fail to stop. House Bills 4928, 4929 and 4930 will allocate funds collected from these violations back to school districts and used for transportation safety, according to Whitmer’s office. These bills were sponsored by State Representatives Nate Shannon and Tyrone Carter.

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