Bill to amend Virginia’s reckless driving law shot down
RICHMOND – An effort to amend the state’s reckless driving law died this afternoon in a House subcommittee meeting.
Del. Joe Morrissey, D-Henrico County, sponsored a bill (HB1371) to strike the part of the legal code that makes driving faster than 80 mph reckless driving. He said it seems unfair that where the speed limit is 70 mph – such as on sections of Interstate 64 connecting Hampton Roads to Richmond – a driver could face a class 1 misdemeanor for driving as little as 11 mph over.
The change would have meant someone would have to be driving at least 20 mph above the speed limit to face a reckless driving charge, a part of the law that is already in effect.
The Criminal Subcommittee of the House Committee on Courts of Justice voted 7-2 against the bill. Opponents cited several concerns, including a possible fiscal impact and that faster speeds lead to more crashes.
“The department has concerns with the bill,” Dan Wilson, of the Virginia State Police, told the committee, “because faster speeds tend to lead to more crashes and more injuries.”
-Kathy Adams, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot
January 9, 2013 - 3:52 PM
Bullhockey Mr.Wilson.
Reckless driving is a higher fine than just speeding and revenue is the reason why this wasn’t changed. The marginal difference between going 70 vs. 80 in a fatal crah is minute. Statistics show it is 55 MPH where the fatality rate starts to soar and that is a legal speed limit on most highways.
Nothing to do with safety at all, follow the money. That’s the real “fiscal concern”. What a charade.
Bob: Not at all sure I agree with you. Simple issue to me. Hit a tree going 80 or hit a tree going 55? Get hit by a vehicle going 80 or one going 55? More likely to lose control at 80 or at 55? Don’t specifically have the stats but another cloud is how post crash analysis can accurately and specifically determine speed. You see comments all the time, “investigators ESTIMATED the vehicle was going over XX miles per hour”. Post crash estimates are not specific enough. Give m 70 over 80, give me 60 over 70, give me 55 over 80!