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Committee advances reckless-driving bill after questions about school and construction zones
Summary
The House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee advanced H 570, a reckless-driving bill, after testimony from law enforcement and industry representatives and a 13–1 roll call that sent the measure to General Orders; members raised questions about definitions, penalties and enforcement capacity.
The House Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee on Feb. 11 advanced H 570, a bill addressing reckless driving, after a lengthy committee exchange about how the measure would treat driving in school and construction zones and how enforcement would be affected.
Rep. Pohanka presented H 570 and a range of witnesses spoke in favor, including Kinsey Thatcher, Rex Ingram (President, Idaho Chiefs of Police Association), Thomas DeFur of the Caldwell Police Department, Fritz Zweigart of the Idaho State Police, Chantel Kelly, principal of Caldwell High School, Deputy Chief Zach Hessing of the Ada County Sheriff's Office, and Sean Schupack of the Idaho Associated General Contractors. Daniel Murphy testified in opposition. Committee members asked for clarification about the bill’s definition of "active," how construction zone design factors into driver responsibility, differences between penalties for speeding and for striking a pedestrian, current school-zone law, and whether limited trooper staffing affects enforcement.
An initial motion by Rep. Hill sought to send H 570 to the floor with a DO PASS recommendation; Rep. Scott then moved to send the bill to General Orders. Because the maker of the original DO PASS motion was absent, that original motion was withdrawn. A roll call vote was requested and the motion carried by a vote of 13 AYE, 1 NAY, 2 Absent/Excused. Reps. Skaug, Alfieri, Scott, Ehardt, Erickson, Garner, Handy, Hostetler, Shirts, Stone, Gannon, Carlson and Rubel voted yes; Rep. Pohanka voted no; Reps. Hawkins and Mathias were absent/excused. Rep. Pohanka will sponsor the bill on the floor.
Committee members asked staff and witnesses about possibilities to increase penalties for speeding infractions, the role of officer discretion in applying the bill, whether drug and alcohol use exacerbates reckless-driving incidents, and whether license-suspension options should be changed. No formal amendments were recorded in committee.
