New Law Forces Cars Into Submission – See What Happens When You Push Too Far!

Starting this Tuesday, motorists in Washington, D.C., will face new driving regulations aimed at curbing reckless driving. The latest law mandates the installation of “speed governors” on vehicles, which will automatically restrict a driver’s speed when necessary. These devices are specifically targeted at repeat offenders who have been convicted of dangerous driving.

The move comes as part of the Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility (STEER) Act, which was passed earlier this year by the D.C. Council. The STEER Act is designed to address reckless driving in the city by focusing on drivers with a history of traffic violations, particularly those who continue to accumulate speeding tickets despite previous fines.

How It Works: Limiting Speed on Public Streets

Under the new regulations, speed governors will be installed on vehicles of drivers convicted of reckless driving. The device will control the car’s speed, but the enforcement is limited to D.C.’s public streets. Drivers won’t be affected while on private property or outside the district.

However, the law does not extend to suspending licenses issued in Maryland or Virginia, even if drivers from these states rack up multiple fines in D.C. Despite these limitations, officials are hopeful this measure will address the growing problem of reckless driving.

D.C. is currently home to over 2,100 vehicles with more than 40 dangerous speeding tickets each, according to recent reports. These alarming figures were brought into sharper focus after a driver with more than $12,000 in unpaid citations caused a deadly accident last summer in Rock Creek Park, claiming three lives.

Points System to Track Speeding Offenses

A key element of the STEER Act is its new points system for speeding violations, designed to further deter reckless driving. Traffic cameras and police officers will be tasked with monitoring vehicles and issuing points for speeding offenses.

Drivers caught speeding 11-15 mph over the limit will receive two points, while those exceeding 20 mph will be slapped with five points. Accumulating 10 points within six months will result in the vehicle being booted and towed—a punishment meant to swiftly deal with repeat offenders before they cause serious harm.

D.C. authorities are taking these measures seriously in light of rising road fatalities. The region has seen an 11% increase in driver-related deaths, with 42 fatalities reported this year alone.

Financial Toll of Traffic Violations

The STEER Act is also part of a larger effort to recover the massive $1.3 billion in outstanding traffic fines owed to the District, a figure revealed in a recent Washington Post report. With this staggering amount of unpaid penalties, D.C. is doubling down on its commitment to enforce traffic laws more strictly.

The city hopes that by imposing harsher penalties and utilizing speed governors, it can prevent more tragic accidents and ultimately reduce the number of repeat offenders on the road.

Reckless Driving Laws in Neighboring States

While D.C. tightens its grip on reckless drivers, states like Virginia and Missouri are also ramping up their own traffic law enforcement.

Virginia, for example, has one of the strictest reckless driving laws in the country. Attorney Dan Leavitt of Leavitt & Martin Attorneys At Law explained in a YouTube video that in Virginia, driving 81 miles per hour in a 70 mph zone can lead to a class one misdemeanor charge. This is unique to Virginia, where going just 11 miles over the speed limit can leave you with a criminal record.

Leavitt clarified, “In Virginia, you can be going 11 miles over the speed limit, which a lot of people do, and it’s a class one criminal misdemeanor which will leave you with a criminal record if you don’t get it reduced.” Fines in Virginia can go up to $2,500, depending on the driver’s previous record and how fast they were driving.

Meanwhile, Missouri recently enacted the Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law, which cracks down on texting and driving. The law is currently in a grace period, but starting January 1, offenders will face fines of up to $500 for using their phones while behind the wheel.

State Senator Greg Razer of Kansas City said of the law, “The Siddens Bening Hands-Free Law reminds us that we have to put down our phones and remain focused on driving to keep ourselves, our passengers, and others around us safe.”

Although an officer cannot pull over a driver solely for phone use, they can issue fines if other traffic violations occur, such as weaving between lanes or failing to stop completely at a sign.

A Shift Toward Safer Roads

These new laws represent a broader shift in how reckless driving is being tackled across the country. While Washington, D.C.’s focus is on repeat offenders, states like Virginia and Missouri are looking to curb risky driving behaviors before they escalate. In the end, the goal remains the same—to make the roads safer for everyone.

With the STEER Act now in full force, drivers in D.C. will need to adjust to the reality of speed governors and stricter traffic enforcement as part of the city’s mission to reduce reckless driving and prevent avoidable tragedies on the road.