Drivers in one state have been warned about a law that requires some high-risk drivers to make use of a GPS-based speed-limiting device. GPS speed limiters are seen as being necessary for citizens whose driver’s licenses were suspended for reckless driving or speeding far beyond the set speed limit. Once these high-risk drivers have installed the Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) device, they will probably only be able to drive under restricted licenses.
Assessing the BEAM Act more fully and accurately
The legislation put in place for high-risk drivers is known as the BEAM Act, House Bill 1596, and was sponsored by Rep. Mari Leavitt. The BEAM Act was decided upon as a way to reduce the number of speeding-related fatalities that occur on roads in the state. The law has not come into effect immediately to ensure that courts, device manufacturers, and citizens are given adequate time to prepare for implementation.
It is those drivers who have repeatedly been caught for driving badly and who have multiple speeding offences that will be held accountable as per the BEAM Act and who will have to install the ISA device in their vehicles. Such devices will track the vehicle’s speed via GPS and will prevent the vehicle from increasing the speed limit beyond the set speed limit. All drivers who have been assigned an ISA device should not tamper with the device, as this action will be penalized.
What does the BEAM Act mean for citizens in the state?
In this state, speeding has become an issue. In 2023 alone, there were over 800 traffic fatalities, and about a third of these fatalities involved drivers speeding beyond the limit. According to the data produced by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, more crashes are linked to excessive speeding. The results also show that offenders tend to continue driving, even with suspended licenses, and this increases the crash statistics in the state.
The BEAM Act has come into effect to address the issue of speeding by offenders by utilizing technology to catch offenders who continue speeding despite having their licenses suspended. While low-income offenders will have ISA devices provided to them, offenders may have to pay all of the costs related to the installation and removal of the device. Alongside these fees, offenders will have to pay $21 per month.
Understanding why the BEAM Act will come into play in the state
The BEAM Act of Washington has now passed both houses of the state Legislature, and the name BEAM was developed by putting together the names of four individuals: Buster B. Brown, Eloise Wilcoxson, Andrea Smith Hudson, and Matilda Wilcoxson. These were the names of the people who were killed in a high-speed crash in Renton in the last year.
This law is in place to reduce the number of lives lost to high-speed crashes and to remind drivers in the state to stay within speed limits. Washington has even considered eliminating speeding stops and having police barred from conducting traffic stops, and this new law could be the reason why.
A legislative shift to curb speeding within the state
The state of Washington is looking forward to the adoption of the BEAM Act and shows a legislative shift that is meant to curb the act of repeated speeding of speed offenders who have a history of reckless road behavior. The BEAM Act on the Washington State House Democrats’ official website states that the state is ready to take action to restrict drivers with bad habits rather than fully suspend them.
In preparation for this law, all stakeholders will need to be informed and ready. Although the law has been signed, it will only come into play in a few years’ time when all the necessary measures have been taken into account. In many states, speed-limiting devices are becoming mandatory, and this may very well help reduce the problem of speeding.
