A bill
in Illinois that would stiffen penalties for joyriders whose reckless driving
habits lead to a traffic death has passed the state’s House of Representatives.
The bill – HB4006,
introduced by Rep. Roger L. Eddy, R-Hutsonville – was approved by the lower
chamber by a vote of 116-0.
Under the
bill, if a driver uses an incline in the roadway – such as the approach
to a railroad crossing – to make his or her vehicle go airborne, and that
action leads to an accident in which someone dies, the driver would be
charged with reckless homicide.
The law
provides for jail time up to three years.
The bill
has already moved to the Senate, where it is now before the Rules Committee.
