Virginia is poised to become the first state to implement a high-tech speed-limiting device in the vehicles of convicted reckless drivers.
HB2096, which Gov. Glenn Youngkin returned to the House with an amendment, would establish the Intelligent Speed Assistance Program. Convicted reckless drivers would be required to install a device in their car that physically prohibits it from traveling above the speed limit.
These devices, called intelligent speed assistance, use GPS and digitally mapped speed limit data to detect the speed limit at a driver’s precise location and cap their speed accordingly.
Washington, DC, passed a similar law last year, The Washington Post reports, which goes in effect in September. Several other states, including Maryland, are considering similar programs.
The bill was sponsored by Del. Patrick Hope. Organizations such as Families for Safe Streets advocated for it as a way to make Virginia’s roads safer.
“I hope that by installing speed-limiting technology on the vehicles of those who choose to repeatedly speed, we can save lives and prevent other families from enduring the same heartbreak we’ve experienced,” said Tammy McGee, a member of Families for Safe Streets whose son, 16-year-old Conner Guido, was killed by a reckless driver.
In 2023, Virginia saw 25,274 speed-related crashes. These contributed to 449 deaths and 13,474 injuries, according to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
How It Works
This program would be court-ordered for people convicted of reckless driving and found driving over 100 miles per hour. For repeat offenders who accumulate a certain amount of demerit points, the DMV would be required to offer this program as an alternative to a license suspension.
The original bill would have required participants to use the device for two to six months. Youngkin struck that part to allow the courts to decide, according to The Washington Post.
If the House accepts Youngkin’s amendment, the law will go into effect July 1, 2026.
Anyone participating in the program would be required to pay all associated costs. Tampering with or circumventing the speed-limiting device is a Class 1 misdemeanor.
Here are some of the other significant pieces of legislation Youngkin acted on this session.
Feature image, stock.adobe.com
