PIERRE, SD -
While lawmakers in Washington are focusing on budget cuts, legislators in South Dakota are looking at bills that would tackle a common problem that many drivers face in the state.
There are approximately 1.5-million deer versus car crashes nationwide every year.
According to State Farm, South Dakota residents are the third most likely to hit a deer. Unfortunately, many deer that get hit don't die quickly and in rural South Dakota it can be a long wait before law enforcement get there to humanely put it down.
House Bill 1144 would let anyone who comes across a deer that has been seriously injured by a vehicle humanely shoot it before law enforcement arrives and without consent of authorities.
The bill hopes to keep deer from un-needed suffering.
It's scheduled to be in the Senate Transportation committee Monday morning at 9.
On Tuesday, a group of bills known as the teen safety package is expected to be voted on.
South Dakota has some of the worst teen driver statistics in the country. Senate Bill 105, 106, and 107 are all in hopes of changing those numbers.
105 would make new drivers keep their instructors permits longer, only letting them drive during certain hours of the day. 106 would make it illegal for teens to use a phone while driving and 107 would limit the number of passengers a teen could have in the car. The package of bills has gained support of many groups across South Dakota.
The bills are scheduled to be voted on in House Transportation committee Tuesday morning at 10.
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