Get the maniacs off the roads
What does it take for someone to have their license permanently revoked? What is the state doing to keep drivers with utter contempt for motor vehicle laws, and the courts, off the streets? Obviously, not enough.
We reported in today's paper, in a front page story headlined "Other 2 were bad drivers, too" that the two other young men involved in the street racing accident in Neptune last week that took the lives of three passengers in a third car also had a long list of motor vehicle violations.
The driver of the car in which three people were killed had more than three dozen violations. And he was only 19! The two other drivers had a combined 35 points against them. One had his license suspended nine times. The other lost it five times - once for doing 105 mph in a 65 mph zone. He had been involved in three accidents.
It's astonishing that people with those kinds of driving records can be allowed to get behind the wheel. We will continue to explore this story further, to determine what can be done to deal with people who have absolutely no regard for the law or for the safety of others.
We reported in today's paper, in a front page story headlined "Other 2 were bad drivers, too" that the two other young men involved in the street racing accident in Neptune last week that took the lives of three passengers in a third car also had a long list of motor vehicle violations.
The driver of the car in which three people were killed had more than three dozen violations. And he was only 19! The two other drivers had a combined 35 points against them. One had his license suspended nine times. The other lost it five times - once for doing 105 mph in a 65 mph zone. He had been involved in three accidents.
It's astonishing that people with those kinds of driving records can be allowed to get behind the wheel. We will continue to explore this story further, to determine what can be done to deal with people who have absolutely no regard for the law or for the safety of others.
posted by Randy Bergmann at 2:03 PM
4 Comments:
In some states, Florida for example, your third conviction for driving while your license is suspended or revoked is a felony. And believe me when I tell you that they treat it like a felony too. If you check the Florida Department of Corrections web site, you will find no shortage Florida inmates who are serving more than a year (without parole) in a non-airconditioned state prison for driving with a suspended or revoked drivers license.
By contrast, driving while suspended in New Jersey is considered a minor, non-criminal matter that is almost always handled in the local Municipal Courts. Moreover, and unless the underlying suspension was for a drunk driving conviction, a jail sentence of at least ten days isn't mandatory in New Jersey until you are convicted a third time for driving while suspended. And even then, the Municipal Court judge might even let you serve those ten days over five consecutive weekends. (We wouldn't want you to use up any of your vacation time serving a jail sentence, after all.)
Is it any wonder why so many people are driving on New Jersey's roads that ought not be?
I should also point out that in some states, things like reckless driving and excessive speeding (e.g., exceeding the posted speed limit by 30+ MPH) are also treated as criminal matters. In New Jersey, doing 30 over the limit is treated like just another traffic violation.
Thanks again for writing on this particular topic, Mr. Bergmann. I hope that future APP articles and blogs speak to another issue that I believe also affects the quality of driving we see on NJ roadways. I am speaking about the rampant use of plea bargains in New Jersey Municipal Courts. It seems to me like just about anyone charged with a moving violation in NJ that would, upon conviction, ordinarily result in the imposition of points on his or her driver's license, is somehow able to plead guilty to a lesser offense and avoid the points altogether -- or, more likely, at least avoid receiving the points they should receive. That being the case, I have to believe that there are thousands of people who are legally driving on New Jersey roadways who really should have their drivers licenses suspended.
Incidentally, if you doubt me, go to any municipal court in NJ and see how many people charged with moving violations line up to speak with the municipal prosecutor just before court starts or while court is in recess. Much like the tourists at a flea market, they are all looking for bargains.
Anonymous:
Thanks for your informative posts. I can assure you we will be writing on this subject again - on Sunday.
How about using some common sense, if you are caught driving with a suspended license the car is impounded by the police on the spot and you get to stay in a nice warm jail cell.Cleaning roadside garbage and litter is mandatory.
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