S. 4874: Tristan's Law

This bill, called Tristan’s Law, would create a federal grant incentive for states to adopt safety rules for frozen dessert trucks, such as ice cream trucks.

What the bill would do

• It would set aside 1% of certain federal highway safety funds each year for states that pass and enforce laws aimed at protecting people near frozen dessert trucks.
• It defines a frozen dessert truck as a motor vehicle that carries frozen desserts and sells them directly to consumers from a door or window.
• To qualify for the grants, states would need laws or regulations requiring these trucks to be equipped with specific safety devices.

Required safety equipment

The bill describes several features frozen dessert trucks would need if a state adopts the program, including:

• Flashing signal lamps visible from both the front and rear.
• A stop signal arm that can extend from the left side of the truck and displays “STOP IF SAFE THEN GO” with reflective markings and flashing lights.
• A convex mirror on the front of the truck so the driver can see the area directly in front of the hood.
• A front crossing arm attached to the bumper and hinged from the right side, meant to extend in front of the truck and make it more visible to pedestrians.

Federal study and guidance

• The Secretary of Transportation would have to study injuries and fatalities
• The study would also look at ways to reduce driver speed and improve safety around these trucks.
• It would examine whether frozen dessert trucks should be prohibited from stopping to sell to a child in places where the child would have to cross a highway to get to the truck.
• After the study, the federal government would issue guidance for state highway safety officials on ways to improve safety around frozen dessert trucks.
• The Secretary would also send a report to Congress on the study results.

When it would take effect

The changes would apply to state highway safety grant applications and plans submitted for fiscal year 2026 and later.

Relevant Companies

None found