ATLANTA — When people with autism get pulled over in Georgia, the police officer who stops their vehicle may soon have special training to reduce the risk of a misunderstanding that can escalate into a confrontation.
Gov. Brian Kemp on Wednesday signed “Rio’s Law,” named after a boy with autism whose mother, Layla Luna, advocated for a similar law that passed in South Carolina after a difficult traffic stop.
Senate Bill 433, by Sen. Brian Strickland, R-McDonough, creates a specialty license plate for people with autism or a developmental disability. It also requires that basic training courses for police include techniques for recognizing people with those conditions and for communicating effectively with them and employing alternatives to physical restraints.
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