Subcommittee advances bill to criminalize knowingly giving keys to unlicensed drivers

Delegate Green, a patron of House Bill 1549, told the House Transportation Subcommittee the measure stems from a fatal crash in York County about five years ago in which Connor Guida was killed while riding with an unlicensed driver. "This bill would create a penalty, make it a misdemeanor to knowingly give keys to a vehicle to an unlicensed driver knowingly," Delegate Green said.

The bill’s nut graf: supporters told the committee they want a clear criminal penalty so parents or others who hand keys to an unlicensed driver cannot avoid punishment. Tammy Guido, Connor’s mother, described the loss and urged lawmakers to adopt language that leaves no ambiguity. "No one should be allowed to drive without a license and get away with it, period," Tammy Guido said.

Kristen Pettway, executive director of DriveSmart Virginia, and several other witnesses cited national crash statistics and organizational support. Pettway told the committee that young and unlicensed drivers create a significant road-safety risk and that organizations including the Chief of Police Association and the National Road Safety Foundation support the bill. Towing owner George Mahone also spoke in favor, saying his business often sees the aftermath of such crashes.

Committee members debated jurisdictional fit for the new misdemeanor and whether it should be routed to courts for sentencing standards and related enforcement language. Delegate Anthony moved to report and refer the bill to the Courts Committee so that prosecutors and court-focused colleagues could review misdemeanor language and fine structures; that motion carried on a recorded roll call, 6-0. The clerk recorded affirmative votes from Delegates Ward, McQuinn, Anthony, Cohen, Knight and Reid.

The measure is scheduled for further consideration by the Courts Committee. Supporters provided written testimony and organizational endorsements to the subcommittee record.