NYC Contemplating Installing Speed Limiters in Vehicles of Repeat Offenders

by Chana Weinman

A new law proposed by NYC lawmakers is meant to prevent repeat speeding offenders from breaking the law.

The bill was introduced by State Senator Andrew Gounardes and Assembly Member Emily Gallagher, who are working to address the dangerous actions of drivers who repeatedly violate traffic laws.

A repeat offender would be a driver who has received six or more tickets from speeding or red light cameras within a year or accumulated 11 points on their license within 18 months. According to the bill, the repeat offender would be subject to a court order which would mandate the installation of a "speed governor" device in their cars.

Similar to New York's ignition interlock devices which don't allow a driver to start his car without passing a breathalyzer test, the speed governor limits the vehicle's speed to 30 mph or five mph over the city's speed limit. A fine would be issued once a driver goes 11 mph over the posted limit.

Another possible bill being considered is one which would make New York State the first to enforce speed-limiting technology in all vehicles. Last year, legislators failed to pass a bill that would have required all all newly registered cars in New York State over 3,000 pounds to have speed limit recognition systems by 2024.

"If you have a demonstrated history of speeding throughout our city's streets, of driving recklessly throughout our city's streets, we are going to literally force you to slow down," Gounardes said during the press conference held to introduce the bill.