The DC Council took its second and final vote on the STEER Act (Strengthening Traffic Enforcement, Education, and Responsibility) to crack down on dangerous drivers and strengthen enforcement. There are many elements in the bill that will help close gaps in both the law and implementation fast. This is a major victory!
Here are some items in the bill that we would like to highlight:
- Establishment of Intelligent Speed Assistance Program (first program in the Nation that applies to all reckless drivers in a city or state). The Intelligent Speed Assistance Program will install “speed governors aka a speed monitor” in the cars of reckless drivers, which will limit the speed on cars of drivers who have violated speeding laws, and keep the speed monitor installed in their car until they meet certain conditions;
- Requires drivers to complete a drivers’ course education before having a suspended / revoked license reinstated, getting a boot removed from their vehicle, or getting their vehicle released from impoundment;
- To help clear the backlog of vehicles eligible for booting/towing, allows the Mayor to enter into memoranda of agreement with private tow companies to enlist them in enforcement;
- Empowers OAG to bring civil suits against both in-state and out-of-state drivers who have moving violations, creating an additional tool if state agencies in Maryland and Virginia fail to take accountability for their dangerous drivers, in the way that we can require DC agencies to do.
And there is more! Council Member Charles Allen’s office provides more information about the legislation here.
This major piece of legislation was passed due to the leadership from Councilmember Charles Allen! We deeply appreciate his leadership in moving this bill forward and we look forward to working with him on implementation of the legislation.