March 1, 2011
EAST HARTFORD LEGISLATORS TARGET DRIVERS WITH MULTIPLE OFFENSES
By Don Stacom, The Hartford Courant
Responding to complaints by residents of an neighborhood that the same reckless driver endangered pedestrians month after month, state lawmakers are considering a bill that would crack down on motorists with bad driving records.
A new bill would suspend the license of any driver who racks up multiple summonses for speeding, reckless driving and other moving violations.
On Monday, state Rep. Henry Genga, D-East Hartford, and other co-sponsors of House Bill 6193 made their case to the General Assembly's transportation committee.
They cited frustration by homeowners on Central Avenue in East Hartford last summer who were struggling with a 23-year-old driver known for racing up and down the street in a Honda Civic. Even though police issued him more than a dozen tickets, he never had to forfeit his license.
Current law is too lenient, they argued, because it allows drivers who pile up tickets to simply pay the fines and take a state-ordered four-hour retraining program before heading out on the road again.
"Driver retraining was meant to give people a second chance. But after that, they have to be accountable," Genga said Tuesday.
Genga's proposal would require such drivers to avoid summonses for three years after they finish the retraining class. Otherwise, the motor vehicles department would be required to suspend their licenses for 30 days after the first new offense. A second offense would bring a 60-day suspension, and a third would trigger a 90-day suspension. And in each case, the three-year probation clock would start fresh, Genga said.
State law allows the motor vehicles department to suspend the license of anyone who gets more than 10 points on their record for driving infractions. But some motorists dodge that by paying their fines by mail; a 1995 law blocks the DMV from suspending licenses of people who mail in their payments.
"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," East Hartford Mayor Marcia A. Leclerc told lawmakers.
Melody Currey, who resigned as East Hartford mayor this winter to become state motor vehicles commissioner, said her department is working with police and prosecutors on a review of how it can better deal with multiple violations and suspensions. Lawmakers appear to have a "get tough" attitude about driving violations this year, and the transportation committee already is considering measures to raise penalties on people who drive without insurance or with suspended licenses.
Currently, about 130,000 people — roughly 3 percent of Connecticut's licensed drivers — are under suspension orders, according to the motor vehicles department.
Among the other initiatives being pressed is Sen. John Kissel's bid to double the $117 fine for driving without a front license plate to $234.
Rep. Timothy Larson (D-East Hartford, South Windsor), Rep. Jason Rojas and Sen. Gary LeBeau (D-East Hartford) are co-sponsors of House Bill 6193.