UPDATE: New legislation in New York City aims to combat reckless driving by mandating the installation of speed limiter devices for chronic offenders. This groundbreaking bill, which targets drivers with 16 or more speeding tickets in a year or 11 points on their license within 18 months, could affect approximately 3,000 bad drivers at a cost of $1,000 per device.
The devices, which utilize GPS technology, are designed to cap a vehicle’s speed, effectively forcing habitual speeders to adhere to speed limits. Assemblymember Robert Carroll highlighted, “For a small stubborn subset of drivers, there is no adequate remedy,” emphasizing the urgent need for innovative solutions to curb dangerous driving habits.
This legislative move follows a tragic incident on October 2024, when a reckless driver with 90 speeding-related violations caused a fatal crash on Ocean Parkway. Carroll noted that had the speed limiter technology been in place, lives could have been saved. Supporters of the bill, including Darnell Sealy-McCrorey, whose daughter, Niyell McCrorey, was killed by a speeding driver, expressed hope that this initiative could prevent future tragedies. “Today, we can all protect other families from suffering like this,” he stated emotionally.
The proposed bill received approval from the state Senate in 2024 and is anticipated to pass through the Assembly. The initiative is part of a broader effort to address speeding issues, similar to measures enacted in Washington and Virginia. The devices will be court-ordered and attached to the drivers rather than the vehicles, with penalties for those who drive without them.
The technology will automatically adjust speed limits based on location, ensuring compliance in various zones, including highways and school areas. This means that even the most reckless drivers will still be able to commute to work or drop children off at school while maintaining safer driving practices.
As the city grapples with an alarming rate of speeding violations—over 2,700 speed cameras issued last year—this legislative push represents a significant step toward enhancing public safety. The urgency to implement these measures could not be clearer, as authorities and advocates alike push for immediate action to protect lives on the road.
Stay tuned for further updates as this developing story unfolds.
