Photo Credit: Porter McLeod/file

A House committee passed a bill written by Rep. Spencer Frye (D-Athens) on Tuesday that would require vehicles to stop at crosswalks when someone on foot or on a bike is waiting to cross.

Currently, the law only requires vehicles to stop when pedestrians are already in the crosswalk.

A similar bill passed the House last year, but it had to be amended to another bill in the Senate because it passed after Crossover Day, when a bill must clear one chamber to stay alive.

Gov. Nathan Deal vetoed that bill, not because of opposition to the crosswalk portion, but because he disagreed with the original bill, which would have allowed motorcycles to run red lights in certain circumstances.

Frye said he is hoping to get a swift vote in on HB 764 to avoid a similar scenario this year.

The chances were improved when Rep. Alan Powell (R-Hartwell), the chairman of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee, agreed to sponsor the bill and usher it through his committee, Frye said.

In appreciation, Frye said the Athens delegation presented Powell with a selection of photos from Flagpole’s Prince Avenue crosswalk contest.

Reps. Chuck Williams (R-Watkinsville) and Regina Quick (R-Athens) are also cosponsors.