Speeding has become a real problem in many places in the US, Although local and state laws are quite strict on this matter, drivers still seem to think that this practice is not as bad and continue to do it despite multiple warnings. The state of Washington is trying to stop this practice by implementing a new law that will hopefully reduce the number of accidents on the road due to speeding and it will entail a speed limiter device that will force drivers to adhere to speed laws.
Considering that most people in the US need their car not just to get around but to live, getting your license taken away is made quite hard, as you must commit some fairly egregious crime or violation in most cases to get it suspended, never mind cancelled. That is one of the main reasons why many disregard what they consider to be small penalties for things like speeding or petty moving violations. But the fact that the problem exists does not mean that the authorities cannot come up with an out of the box solution, and that is precisely what they have done in Washington State.
The new Washington State law that mandates a speed limiters device
Of course, this new law is not universal and not every driver in the state will need to comply with it, that would be a huge violation of rights, but there are some drivers that, if they want to keep their license will need to install a speed limiter device on their cars.
The measure is compiled in House Bill 1596, also known as the BEAM Act and will require all drivers that have been convicted of two or more speeding tickets or reckless driving within a 12-month period to install a speed limiter device in their vehicle within 30 days of the notice in order to keep their license. If they fail to do so, their license will be suspended. Since these are some of the most of the most common violations, the amount of drivers impacted just in the first year will be huge.
There is one caveat that is making some detractors of the law very nervous, and that is that the device comes with an associated cost of a $29 a month fee. This fee is meant to pay back for the leasing, maintenance, and speed-limit device monitoring costs associated with the device and it will not be paid to the state, but to the company that makes the device, so it will be in addition to any other fees and penalties levied by the courts.
While the idea is to keep the program self-sustaining without involving taxpayers it presents a problem as it also adds an economic burden to drivers that they may not be able to afford. While a $29 monthly fee does not seem like it would make or break a family’s economy, there are plenty of struggling families that cannot make this payment at all.
Rep. Mari Leavitt, the bill’s sponsor, was quoted by Governing as saying “We’re not just punishing drivers—we’re giving them a tool to change their behavior.” And to prove that this was not just a cash grab or an attempt to enrich another company, the state has also announced that those who cannot afford the fee will be able to apply for a hardship waiver for those who can demonstrate financial need.
After all, “This is about prevention, not punishment. Speed-limiting technology would be allowed on highways only,” said a spokesman for the Washington Traffic Safety Commission. The measure is meant to stop accidents on the road, not make residents of Washington State accept another economic burden.