Tristan's Law would change a part of title 23 of the U.S. Code to create a small federal grant program and set equipment rules to improve the safety of children who buy food from frozen dessert trucks. The bill adds a new category to the National Priority Safety Programs that reserves 1 percent of those funds for States that adopt laws requiring frozen dessert trucks to carry specific safety equipment. The equipment requirements in the bill include: one or more signal lamps (5–7 inches in diameter) with two alternately flashing red lights visible at least 500 feet; a stop signal arm with specified trapezoidal shape, reflective red background, a STOP/IF SAFE/THEN GO legend, and flashing lights (3–5 inches) visible at least 300 feet; a convex mirror mounted to show the area in front of the truck that the hood would otherwise hide; and a front crossing arm attached to the front bumper that extends 4–6 feet, sits 16–20 inches above the street, and is covered with reflective material. The bill requires grants to be distributed to States in proportion to each State’s FY2022 apportionment under section 402. It also directs the Secretary to study pedestrian injuries and fatalities related to frozen dessert trucks, evaluate countermeasures (including whether trucks should avoid vending where a child must cross a road), issue guidance to State highway safety officers, and report study results to relevant congressional committees. The bill takes effect for grant applications or State safety plans submitted for fiscal year 2026 or later.
No publicly available information on the total federal cost of this bill. The bill reserves 1 percent of funds already allocated under section 405 (National Priority Safety Programs) for States that adopt the required laws. The text also reduces one existing allocation from 7 percent to 6 percent (per the amendment language).
The bill’s findings say frozen dessert trucks create particular hazards for children because children may not watch for traffic and trucks can block driver sight lines. Supporters say requiring drivers to stop before passing a stopped vending truck and equipping trucks with flashing lamps, a stop arm, a convex mirror, and a front crossing arm can reduce those hazards. The bill’s sponsors also say the Federal Government can help reduce pedestrian injuries linked to these trucks by funding State actions and studying countermeasures.
No publicly available information on opposition views in the bill text or metadata.