SB 659

This bill requires the Department of Transportation to promulgate rules to implement a program for the installation of speed limiters on vehicles. Under the bill, if a person is convicted of a second or subsequent reckless driving violation in a 5-year period where the violations involved speeding 20 or more miles per hour over the speed limit, the court must order that the person’s operation of “Class D” vehicles (e.g., automobiles and light trucks) be restricted to those equipped with a speed limiter. The order must require that the speed limiter be installed for one year except that, if the person has been previously subject to such an order, the court must require that the speed limiter be installed for two years. The person is responsible for the costs of installing, servicing, and removing the speed limiter.

The bill provides that no person may remove, disconnect, tamper with, or otherwise circumvent the operation of a speed limiter installed in response to a court order; fail to have the speed limiter installed as ordered by the court; or violate a court order restricting the person’s operating privilege. A person violating this prohibition may be fined up to $600, or imprisoned for six months, or both, for the first offense. For a second or subsequent violation within five years, the person may be fined up to $1,000, or imprisoned for not more than six months, or both.

The bill provides that a person may not authorize the operation of a motor vehicle that the person owns, leases, or rents by another person who the motor vehicle owner, renter, or lessee knows is subject to a court order requiring the use of a speed limiter. A person violating this prohibition is subject to the same penalties provided for circumventing a speed limiter. In addition, a court must order that the violator’s operating privilege for the operation of “Class D” vehicles be restricted to operating vehicles that are equipped with a speed limiter.