New Legislation Penalizing Excessive Speeding Could Be Introduced Soon In Connecticut

Owners of the new 868-horsepower Ferrari 296 Speciale, the 1,064-horsepower Corvette ZR1, or even a 648-horsepower F40 Competizione looking to put their top speeds to the test in Connecticut – i.e. lunatics – will be disappointed to learn that new legislation could soon be introduced to punish “extreme reckless drivers” if they are caught traveling at more than 100 mph on public roads.

In a rare show of bipartisanship, the Connecticut House of Representatives gave a unanimous vote of approval for the new bill (House Bill No. 7260) to go before the state Senate. If signed into law, the new ruling could see perpetrators face increased fines of between $200 and $600, with severe violations even leading to a 30-day prison sentence. Repeat offenders, meanwhile, would face fines of up to $1,000, and could have their vehicle impounded for up to 48 hours until outstanding fines, as well as towing and storage costs, have been paid.

The new bill has been introduced in a bid to cut down reckless driving and “brazen lawlessness” that puts motorists and pedestrians at risk on the public roads. According to data accrued by the University of Connecticut, there were “more than 5,600 speed-related” crashes in the state over the previous 12 months, at least” of which 55 were fatal. The phrase ‘speed-related’ is important here, as it does not necessarily mean all accidents were caused by speeding, but could also have been the result of inappropriate speeds, which are equally as dangerous.

Ironically, a local report by the CT Post states that speed-related incidents in Connecticut have actually dropped from 10,939 to 7,148 – around 30 percent – over the last 10 years, and while overall collisions on the state’s roads (not necessarily involving speeding) have also dipped during that time, they have only done so by a comparatively meager 7 percent.

The genesis of this new ruling came from two different reckless driving bills introduced targeting “super speeders,” both of which were eventually absorbed into House Bill No. 7260. Though the details varied, the proposed bills called for at least a $500 fine and a two-point drivers’ license endorsement for drivers found to be traveling between 87 and 99 mph. In excess of 100 mph, these increased to at least a $1,000 fine and a four-point penalty.

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A Bipartisan Act Against “Brazen Lawlessness”

Despite the current political climate in the United States, Connecticut Attorney General William Tong claims the unanimous vote on the bill “sends a powerful bipartisan message to those who ignore our laws and imperil our safety – this reckless misconduct will not be tolerated.” Interestingly, the Attorney General’s statement targeted not only excessive speeding but also “reckless lane changes” and “distracted and intoxicated driving,” suggesting that further road safety bills may soon be on the agenda in Connecticut.

This bill follows news that judges in Virginia may be given the power to impose limiting devices on the vehicles of reckless drivers.

There’s a global crackdown on reckless driving, extending well beyond the borders of the USA. Down under in Australia, for example, owners of high-performance vehicles must now obtain a special license to be able to drive their vehicles on public roads, a law implemented following the death of a pedestrian caused by an out-of-control Lamborghini.

Source: CT Post