'Turn Around, Don't Drown' Bill Headed To Corbett's Desk

By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - The next time you ignore barriers and drive into a flooded intersection, it may cost you, thanks to legislation sent to Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett's desk over the weekend.

Suburban Philadelphia Republican John Rafferty, chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, spoke about the problem of drivers ignoring warnings of road hazards just before the Senate gave the bill final legislative approval.

"And they insist on driving through those flooded conditions and find themselves stranded. This now allows those first responders that have to risk their lives and use their equipment to go after restitution in such matters," Rafferty explained.

In addition to paying costs, those motorists would also face fines and points on their driving record.

In Montgomery County in April, a Philadelphia man was ordered to make a $1,000 contribution to a fire company and write letters of apology to three firefighters when he drove into flood waters during Tropical Storm Lee last September.