- Jan
23
2013
I extend my sympathy to Rep. Rev. Steve Hickey (R-9/Sioux Falls) this morning. For the second year in a row, he proposed legislation to put speeding back in the penalty points system for traffic violations. Just like last year, his House colleagues killed his proposal, keeping our speeding laws lax, just the way serial speeder Governor Bill Janklow made them back in 1986.
Rep. Rev. Hickey's 2012 speeding-points bill made it through committee to the House floor, where it was defeated 30-to-39. This year's bill included the same revision to the points system, but Rep. Rev. Hickey compromised and removed the language he proposed last year to reduce the number of points you'd have to "earn" to lose your license. That gentler bill made even less headway, going down in committee on a 9-to-4 vote. Ron-Paulite Rep. Dan Kaiser (R-3/Aberdeen) was one of the nays on HB 1080... probably because he doesn't want any more laws that he has to decide whether to enforce or not at his day job as an Aberdeen police officer.
Among absurd points of opposition was Rep. Lance Russell's (R-30/Hot Springs) concern that taking away driver's licenses for speeding could cause folks to lose their jobs. Rep. Rev. Hickey made an unsuccessful appeal to personal responsibility:
"I don’t share the opinion of it being an undue burden on somebody that they might not be able to get a work permit," Hickey said. "It’s their own fault if they’re getting 15, 20 tickets a year. So what? They need to shape up. They’re a public safety hazard" [David Montgomery, "Hickey's Speeding Ticket Bill Dies in Committee," Political Smokeout, 2013.01.22].
Funny: I thought personal responsibility was a mainline Republican issue. Apparently it's not when the Republicans voting are a bunch of legislators who like to lead-foot their way home from Pierre each weekend.
The speeding-points bill may not be dead yet: Rep. Rev. Hickey is checking with colleagues to see if he has the votes to bring the bill to the House floor and pass it (the always enjoyable smokeout process). I wish Rep. Rev. Hickey well in his effort to hold South Dakotans accountable for their reckless behavior.
5 Responses to “Hickey Softens Speeding Penalty Bill, Makes Even Less Headway with GOP Colleagues”
I came from a state that had the "point" system (Colorado) It worked out pretty well, it seemed. When people think that they have a possibility of losing their driving priveleges, it has a great impact, which in turn spells out safer roadways for the general motoring public. Insurance companies could also use this when examining someone's driver's record, to see if they were at more of a risk to insure or not.
Did it totally eliminate speeding drivers? of course not. But when you are facing a possibility of losing your driving priveleges and/or hitting you in the pocket book on insurance rates? Oh yeah, it is quite the deterrent.
The higher the speed, the greater the braking distance. This should be a no-brainer AND should have the support of the so-called law enforcement officer Kaiser.
Why would this bill even be introduced? Is our current system broken?
A ban on texting and driving would be welcome.
Michael, why a texting bill? We have distracted and careless driving laws already. Is our current system broken?
Rep. Hickey, I support your effort to hold speeders accountable. I would support a stronger version of Senator Vehle's SB 142 that prohibited cell phone calls as well as texting while driving. Speed and phone distraction are both significant factors in accidents.
Rep. Hickey---we may disagree on many things--but on the issue of speeding, I agree with you. We shouldn't lose the ability to perform arithmetic when it comes to speeding. From what I read in the media, the arguments against your legislation was weak and not well thought out.
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