March 1, 2011
REP. GENGA, EAST HARTFORD MAYOR TESTIFY
IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION FOR SUSPENDING
LICENSES OF DRIVERS WITH MULTIPLE VIOLATIONS
State Rep. Henry Genga (D-East Hartford) and East Hartford Mayor Marcia Leclerc told the legislature’s Transportation Committee this week that state laws must be tightened to keep unsafe motorists with multiple driver’s license violations and suspensions off the roads.
The two officials testified Monday in support of a bill giving the Department of Motor Vehicles greater ability to suspend the licenses of drivers who have multiple moving violations.
The legislation (HB 6193) was introduced by Rep. Henry Genga (D-East Hartford) after an East Hartford man repeatedly drove recklessly through his Central Avenue neighborhood. The man had been ticketed 17 times for motor vehicle violations, including driving recklessly, but the state could not suspend his license solely for continuing to commit these types of offenses.
Rep. Timothy Larson (D-East Hartford), Rep. Jason Rojas (D-East Hartford, Glastonbury, Manchester) and Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford) are co-sponsors of the bill.
Testimony by Henry Genga
On
HB 6193 An Act Concerning the Suspension of the Motor Vehicle Operator’s License of Persons who Commit Multiple Motor Vehicle Moving Violations
February 28, 2011
Honorable Co-Chairman Representative Guerrara and Co-Chairman Senator Maynard and distinguished members of the Transportation Committee,
For the record, I am Henry Genga, State Representative for the 10th district in East Hartford.
It is with great pleasure that I state my support on Proposed Bill No. 6193 concerning the suspension of motor vehicle operator licenses for people who commit multiple motor vehicle moving violations. The current process leaves much to be desired and the propose change provides a more reasonable solution to these scofflaws.
People who have motor vehicle violations and still continue to not obey laws should suffer the consequence of a license suspension. The proposed bill defines a three year period of time to be enforced where the license of a driver indicates a necessary or completed driver retraining program. Violations during this 3 year period would require the Commissioner of DMV to suspend the license for 30 days and progressively add another 30 days for each subsequent violation during the 3 year period. The maximum of a 90 day suspension will be in effect for any violation after the third one. until The violator will have these violations on his license until he has a clean record for 3 year. Legislation needs to be effective when individuals commit motor vehicle violations after completing a driver retraining program simply because the lesson has not been learned and the drivers serve as a danger to the safety of others on the road.
An individual in East Hartford during a time period of 2006-2010 received seventeen motor vehicle violations from police agencies in the area. During this time he also completed the retraining program five times as part of his restitution. Each time after completing the retraining program he received his license back and gamed the system with continued disregard for his actions. The residents in the area where he lived were terrified for the public safety of their children and their neighbors. The police department did their part and issued violations, but DMV continued to re-issue his license because the Commissioner at that time felt he did not have the legislative mandate to suspend it for any considerable amount of time. This legislation makes it very clear that the legislative intent is to allow an individual to enter the retraining program and require the Commissioner of DMV to suspend the license according to the number of violations.
This legislation was written with the support of the Commissioner of the DMV and she feels it gives her appropriate legislative authority.
Thank you for your consideration.
Testimony By Marcia A. Leclerc, Mayor, Town of East Hartford
Honorable Co-Chairman Senator Maynard and Co-Chairman Guerrera; Distinguished members of the Transportation Committee:
My name is Marcia Leclerc and I serve as Mayor of the Town of East Hartford.
Thank you for the opportunity to address the committee this morning in regards to House Bill 6193, specifically as it relates to amending General Statute 14-111g. (c.)
The amendment requires the dates of completion for operator retraining remain on the operator’s driving history record “until such person has attained a three year period without any additional moving violations or suspension violations.” The amendment further empowers the Commissioner to suspend the license of a habitual violator for up to ninety days for subsequent violations.
This amendment provides for real consequences to behavior not in keeping with the General Statutes of Connecticut, specifically as it relates to public safety.
Under Connecticut law, a driver who commits a certain number of specific moving or suspension violations must attend a four-hour driver retraining program. There is no limit on the number of times an individual can take the program. A driver who continues to commit violations that put him or her over the statutory limit must repeat the program. However, the state cannot suspend a driver's license solely for continuing to commit these types of offenses.
An example of how House Bill 6193 will impact public safety and quality of life issues in East Hartford is best illuminated in an issue spanning several years. There have been innumerable complaints made over time by East Hartford residents regarding excessive noise from, and reckless driving of, automobiles in a specific neighborhood.
The complainants have reported the incidents to the East Hartford Police Department, who, to their credit, have responded quickly to those incidences. Several times the police have arrested the same individual for reckless driving. They have also issued violations to the driver for infractions ranging from failure to wear a seat belt to excessive muffler noise. That operator has now completed several operator re-training programs. It is this type of irresponsible and potentially dangerous behavior the bill addresses and is a primary reason I strongly support House Bill 6193 and urge its passage.
The amendment will allow the Commissioner to take progressive action to preclude operators, whose behavior clearly violates the statute, from continuing to operate motor vehicles unless and until they are in full compliance with the laws of Connecticut.
Although State regulations allow the Commissioner to suspend the license of a driver who accumulates 11 or more points on his or her driving record, the point system yields few suspensions because the Commissioner is not allowed to assess any points for which a driver has paid a fine and any fees to the Centralized Infractions Bureau (CGS 14-137a).
Clearly, where loopholes exist for repeat offenses without real life consequences, the assurance of public safety for the citizens of East Hartford, and Connecticut, are at risk.
If the legislature approves House Bill 6193, you will be providing for real life consequences that is at once necessary and responsible. We must insure our roads and neighborhoods are safe for our residents; free of operators who would habitually and negatively impact the public safety of our taxpayers, who impact the resources of our public safety professionals, and who remain demonstrably unrepentant.
Again, I thank you for the opportunity to address the committee and to reinforce my strong support for the passage of House Bill 6193. I further acknowledge my appreciation of the efforts of House Bill 6193’s author, Representative Henry Genga from East Hartford’s 10th district, who has worked tirelessly to resolve this issue on behalf of his constituents, and for the general benefit of the people of Connecticut.