TAMPA, Fla. — Many people who have autism are still able to drive, including Eric Kaiser. However, stressful situations, like being pulled over by police, can make him uncomfortable.
What You Need To Know
Blue Peace Envelopes provides information to officers about drivers with autism
It includes the driver’s license, emergency contacts, tells an officer if the driver is verbal or non-verbal, and more
Eric Kaiser said the envelope could make traffic stops less stressful for drivers like him
He hopes the Florida Legislature passes a new law that will allow for the use of a Blue Peace Envelope.
“It’s just to give that sense of calm in a tense situation,” he said.
The envelope includes a copy of one’s license, emergency contacts, tells an officer if the driver is verbal or non-verbal and more.
Kaiser said this lets an officer immediately know more about a person on the spectrum.
“Some people just freeze up. They don’t talk. They can’t talk,” Kaiser said. “Some of us would rather just write stuff down.”
Tampa Councilman Luis Viera said he met Kaiser through their Autism Awareness Program.
After learning about the program from Kaiser and seeing similar programs in other states, he’s throwing his support behind the legislation.
“If it’s not obvious to the person that you have a disability, it can lead to misunderstandings in all areas of life, including with law enforcement,” he said.
The Tampa Police Department said it doesn’t comment on pending legislation.
Still, they shared this statement:
“We remain committed to a proactive approach in building strong, supportive partnerships with our community and providing officers with the tools and information necessary to interact safely and effectively with all residents.
The Florida Legislature returns on Jan. 13.