One state is pulling the brakes on reckless driving, so anyone caught driving over 100 mph could face jail time or other serious consequences. According to a new bill, Substitute Bill No. 7260, traffic violations could now be seen as a criminal offense. The State has already approved Substitute Bill No. 7260, however, the Senate is meant to review the bill in the upcoming weeks. Over 2,6 million drivers in this one state will have to consider the implications of this law being passed and signed by Governor Ned Lamont.
Speeding will no longer be a reality in one state
Citizens in this one state are experiencing a harsh wake-up call, as for over a decade, the penalty for speeding was very minimal. As per the graduated penalty system, a ticket could cost as little as $137 for speeding over the speed limit, with slightly harsher penalties for faster speeds. Drivers driving 86 mph over the speed limit were seen as reckless drivers, but this was not seen as a criminal offense.
As per the new law, reckless driving is more than just reckless; it’s criminal. Driving at 100 mph over the speed limit could see offenders:
- Receiving a fine of about $200 to $600
- Facing up to 30 days in jail
- Dealing with a hefty speeding fine and jail time
The law is much more stringent in that four points would be placed on the driver’s license of offenders, pushing the offender closer to a license suspension. Furthermore, repeat offenders could face a full year in jail and may have to pay a hefty fine of up to $1,000.
What has led the state to put in place more stringent rules?
The shift towards more stringent rules is due to the data received, which indicates an increase in the number of deadly crashes all linked to speeding. Over 5,600 cases of speed-related crashes were recorded in the past year in the state.
While the state is adamant to put measures in place to curb the issue of speeding in the state, the issue of an increase in speed-related issues is not only occuring in this state. The problem of speeding is affecting all states nationwide. However, this one state is recording and gaining data on this reckless behavior, and the state is using this behavior to inspire legislative action.
How should all of the drivers in the state react to the new law?
Attorney General of the state, William Tong, has expressed how urgent its is for this law to get enacted. However, even before the law gets embraced in the state, drivers should see the law as a warning, and start ensuring that they are not classified as being guilty of the criminal offense of speeding in the state.
If the law is passed, it will apply to:
- All drivers who are driving on public or private roads.
- Drivers driving near school-owned properties.
- Drivers who exceed the speed limit by 100 mph or over (as they could face criminal charges).
- Repeat offenders who will face more serious consequences including jail time.
- Commercial drivers who could risk losing their careers due to speeding.
Speeding in the state is now coming with consequences and all drivers on the road should take heed of this warning. Since speeding is now considered to be legally dangerous, drivers in this state should not be caught being on the wrong side of the law. This state is also raising the age and rewriting e-bike rules for the young this month.
Slowing down becomes a necessary measure in the state
According to Connecticut House Bill 7260, the problem of speeding will soon be curbed in this state and may provoke changes countrywide as well. Since millions of drivers in Connecticut are affected, all these drivers should take heed of this warning, and start slowing down before the rule gets put in place. Since Connecticut is putting safety first, drivers will have to deal with roads full of traffic enforcement cameras as well.
