Posted: | July 19, 2013 08:52 AM |
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From: | Representative Mark Painter |
To: | All House members |
Subject: | Legislation Clarifying a Title 75 Reckless Driving Offense |
In the near future, I plan to introduce legislation that will help to clarify the violation for speeding offenses. Specifically, under this legislation, if a motorist is driving 100 miles per hour or more or if they are driving 45 MPH over the speed limit, the same penalties would automatically be triggered as would be rendered for a person found guilty of reckless driving. While Pennsylvania law does outline the offense and penalties for excessive speeding, my legislation would automatically trigger the same penalties, including a six month suspension of driving privileges, as is currently the case for a conviction of Title 75 §3736 (Reckless Driving). Currently, excessive speeding would normally be prosecuted under Title 75 §3362 (Maximum Speed Limits), but only a departmental hearing with a possible 15 day license suspension is triggered for those motorists found guilty of driving 31 MPH or more over the speed limit. This legislation would effectively create an additional bracket with higher penalties for motorists that are driving at such a high speed that they clearly are showing a reckless disregard for the safety of others. One of the reasons that I am supporting this legislation was due to a recent accident in Bucks County caused by a motorist who was driving a modified vehicle that may have been exceeding 130 MPH. This accident killed 9 year old Holly Huynh and left her grandmother Suzanne Berry disabled. One of my staff members is related to them through marriage. This legislation will serve as a deterrent to those drivers who do not understand the incredible danger excessive speeding can cause. We owe it to the responsible drivers of the Commonwealth to do all that we can to keep Pennsylvania’s roadways as safe as possible. Please join me in co-sponsoring this critical piece of safety legislation. |
Introduced as HB1723