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Committee hears bill to pilot speed‑limiting devices for chronic offenders
Summary
HB1139 would create a pilot requiring chronically speeding drivers who otherwise face license suspension to install intelligent speed assistance devices for a year; sponsors and safety groups said the technology can reduce repeat speeding and save lives.
Delegate Nick Allen introduced House Bill 1139 on Feb. 20, proposing a Motor Vehicle Administration pilot to require intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices for drivers who face license suspension for chronic speeding, reckless driving or racing.
"This technology sits on the dash...and uses GPS technology to ensure the driver is in compliance with the posted speed limit," Delegate Allen told the committee, describing a live demonstration he had witnessed and arguing the devices have been used successfully in commercial fleets and cities abroad. He said the device can be programmed to the posted speed limit, includes a temporary override for safety, and can be waived or subsidized for indigent users.
The hearing drew broad support from safety advocates and law enforcement. Sergeant Pat Kep of the Montgomery County Police Department described being intentionally struck by a high‑speed driver and urged passage, saying the device offers a legal avenue for suspended drivers to continue driving while remaining limited to the posted speed. Regina Cooper Ali of AAA Mid‑Atlantic said ISA devices have been used globally and called them a tool to reduce speed‑related fatalities. Family members of crash victims, including Marietta Squire, described personal tragedies from high‑speed crashes and asked lawmakers to pass the bill.
Committee members asked practical questions: how the program would treat households with multiple vehicles, whether drivers could circumvent requirements by using other cars, device costs and fee waivers, and how the device’s data and privacy would be handled. Delegate Allen said multiple vehicles could be equipped, the cost would be similar to ignition‑interlock programs (about $4 per day), manufacturers would offer reduced fees for indigent users, and data would be used for compliance only and would belong to the MVA.
Witnesses representing safety organizations — Bike Maryland, Washington Area Bicyclists Association, Families for Safe Streets — and unions emphasized that repeat speeders account for a disproportionate share of deadly crashes and supported the pilot as part of a broader Vision Zero approach.
Ending: The committee received extensive supportive testimony and technical questions; no vote was taken. Sponsors and witnesses said they would work on technical language in subcommittee.
