Relatives of slain truck driver Jason Rivenburg are making sure that his death was not in vain.
A petition calling for secure rest areas for truckers has attracted over 3,000 signatures worldwide and locally, said Cassandra Hardendorf, Jason’s aunt.
Mr. Rivenburg, 35, of Fultonham was shot and killed the night of March 5 in South Carolina.
Three men were arrested later that weekend in connection with the shooting.
Ms. Hardendorf said family members started the petition, which has been distributed in local stores as well as across the state and country by truckers, the night they found out that Jason had been shot and killed.
Mr. Rivenburg apparently stopped to rest at a closed down gas station off Interstate 26 in South Carolina at about 10:30pm on March 5 when he was shot during a robbery attempt. The robber got only $7.
Truckers are mandated by federal law to rest after driving a certain number of hours, Ms. Hardendorf said. They need secure areas to rest.
“This has been a real eye opener,” she said. “There are many truckers out there.”
There are few, if any, secure rest areas and states have been closing down areas, she said.
“We need secure parking areas for these men and women to park and rest,” Ms. Hardendorf said.
“It’s real scary out there.”
The petition reads, “We, the undersigned, are requesting that the U.S. Government enact legislation that will protect the truckers within the United States. We are requesting that the truck stops be required to have adequate lighting and cameras and businesses be required to provide a secure common area for them to wait to unload.”
Members of Mr. Rivenburg’s family have met with Congressman Paul Tonko and state Assemblyman Peter Lopez about the legislation, nicknamed “Jason’s Law,” and have also contacted the office of Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. Both Congressman Tonko and Assemblyman Lopez have been very receptive to the proposal, Ms. Hardendorf said.
In addition to the local copies of the petitions and those that have been dropped off by truckers, the petition is also on the Internet and has been signed by more than 3,000 people world wide including people in Great Britain, Australia and Canada.
“It’s ballooned,” Ms. Hardendorf said.
Representatives of the national owner-operated truck association and the state independent driver’s association have been contacted and have been very cooperative, she said.
“We have decided whatever it takes to get this passed, we’re going to do.”
Mr. Rivenburg left behind three children, a 23-month-old son and twins, a boy and a girl, who were born Wednesday morning. The twins are named Hezekiah and Logan.
The on line version of the petition is available at: www.jhlrivenburg.com.
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The friends of Jason and Hope Rivenburg have set up a memorial trust fund at TrustCo Bank. Contributions in Mr. Rivenburg’s name can be made to any TrustCo Bank. The fund was set up for Hope and the Rivenburg children.