Two
proposals before the Pennsylvania General Assembly would deal
more harshly with reckless and aggressive drivers.
State
Sen. Joe Conti, R-Doylestown, has introduced legislation that
ups the ante for road recklessness. SB805 would charge any person
with reckless driving who drives a vehicle “in willful or wanton
disregard” for the safety of others.
Violators
would be fined $200. A conviction of reckless driving that resulted
in a victim being seriously injured could net the offender a fine
up to $7,500.
HB1240,
sponsored by Rep. Anthony Melio, D-Levittown, would charge someone
with aggressive driving “if the person operates a vehicle in a
manner which tends to harass, annoy or alarm another person” while
breaking at least two traffic laws.
Under
Melio’s bill, a penalty of aggressive driving would be a misdemeanor.
An aggressive driving conviction for which a victim was badly
injured would result in a felony, punishable for at least 90 days
in jail and a minimum $1,000 fine.
The
offenses that would have to be violated to charge someone with
aggressive driving include running a red light, running a stop
sign, following too closely, failing to yield right-of-way, illegal
passing and racing on a highway.
Both
bills are under review in their chamber’s transportation committee.
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