Driving regulations against certain habitual traffic offenders could get tighter if a bill recently proposed by republicans gains some traction.
According to the State House News Service, the proposal presented at the State House Tuesday would allow the Registry of Motor Vehicles to permanently revoke the licenses of bad drivers.
In response to a fatal hit-and-run incident two weeks ago, House and Senate Republicans filed the bill, which would create a three-tiered system of license suspensions for constant car crashers.
“Drivers who repeatedly violate the law after having their license revoked are not only abusing the system, they present in many cases a serious threat to public safety,” said Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, a co-sponsor of the proposed legislation.
Tarr invited democrats to join the cause and said “protecting public safety transcends party lines.”
According to reports, under current law, repeat traffic offenders can be denied a driver’s license for up to four years if they have been convicted at least three times of committing one or more enumerated offenses.
The bill offered by Beacon Hill Republicans would increase the penalty for a first time habitual offender to a five-year license suspension.
What the bill would do:
Level 2 offenders would be subject to having their license suspended for not less than five years and not more than 15 years.
Level 3 would be reserved for drivers already punished as a habitual offender who commits one additional listed offense, or a Level 2 offender who is convicted of two additional non-listed driving offenses punishable by a 30-day suspension.
Under the bill, a Level 3 habitual offender shall have their license suspended for up to their lifetime, but not less than five years.
