Weeks ago, a state senator made national news by introducing a bill requiring ‘speed governors’ on all cars sold in California. Now, another un-American idea has cropped up in the US capitol. The Washington D.C. city council has introduced a motion that would require speeders, convicted of repeat offences, to have a ‘speed governor’ on their cars for the rest of their lives; speed demons beware!
The short version is that drivers convicted of speeding or reckless driving will be required to install a ‘speed governor’ on their car for a year. Motorists will pay for the device out of their own pocket, but in the interest of fairness, Washington will cover the cost for low-income drivers. The time line doubles to two years on the second offence, and once a motorist has the unenviable title of “four-time offender” the speed governor is on for life. The driver is not allowed to operate a vehicle in D.C. without one, so forget about borrowing a car to get around.
What’s disturbing about this news story is that for the second time this year, government entities in the land of the free have proposed limiting an individual’s freedom behind the wheel. These ideas are initially introduced as safety measures to protect us from ‘bad guys’ but it’s only a matter of time before the technological handcuffs get slapped on all motorists wrists.
How’d you get that picture of me driving??
I think I commented about your post about California, but what DC is doing makes slightly more sense. However, of all the issues for lawmakers to care about, this should be so low on the list as to be barely written on the paper.
Not to defend them, but this was DC city council not the federal government.
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But even on a local level Washington has more than its share of ‘big city’ problems which need to be addressed. This ain’t one of them.
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I think things like red light cameras and speed limiters become hot button topics because of isolated local incidents.
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But much as you mentioned regarding California’s initiatives, its hard to accept government restrictions on driving freedoms.
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Thats why I added that pic from Vanishing Point (below the picture of you and your black Chevy)
I think you are right on. Laws get made sometimes in response to isolated or infrequent happenings. Probably why it’s against the law to hunt mice without a license in Cleveland, Ohio.
I noticed replies to WPs writing prompt about ‘breaking the law’ and in the back of my mind I thought how many laws we don’t even realize we’re breaking… because they’re silly.