Posted on 05/21/2024
The City Council voted to approve a resolution supporting SB 1509 (Stern)—the Negligent Operator Treatment Act in California. This bill aims to combat reckless driving by making convictions for driving 26 mph or more over the posted speed limit a two-point violation, instead of the current one-point violation.
The Resolution highlights that in 2021, California reported over 4,000 traffic fatalities, a more than 7 percent increase compared to the previous year. It is noted that over 6 million accidents occur annually in the United States, with at least 250,000 occurring in California, placing the state second in the nation for speed-related traffic fatalities.
Existing state laws prohibit driving at speeds that endanger the safety of persons or property. They require that traffic violations count as points against the driver's record for purposes of license suspension or revocation. This state bill seeks to specify a conviction that would increase those points, aiming to mitigate reckless driving and enhance road safety. Currently, driving 1 to 15 mph over the speed limit results in a $238 ticket under the existing fine and penalty schedule. While fines gradually increase for speeding and other traffic-related infractions, these are generally treated as one-point violations.