Good News - SB 1509 Targeting Egregious Speeders Advances
TODAY, Senate Bill 1509 (Stern) passed through the full California Senate with a 27 to 1 vote and now advances to the Assembly.
What is SB 1509?
In 2020, 1,228 people died in California from speed-related collisions, and in 2021, the number increased, with 1509 Californians losing their lives due to speeding. SB 1509 aims to increase accountability for drivers by increasing the number of violation points associated with driving 26 mph above the speed limit to two violation points.
This would be significant for California. Currently, a driver may only receive a one-point violation unless they are caught driving over 100 mph, colliding with a person, or colliding with property. However, passing SB 1509 would not only send a clear message of a driver’s risky behavior, but with the risk of license probation or suspension via the increased violation points, it would provide a greater deterrence of people from speeding and increase road safety.
Despite the benefits of SB 1509, it did not come without opposition from the Teamsters Union, which didn’t want their professional truck drivers to be penalized for driving at 26 MPH above the speed limit. Through efforts by Streets Are For Everyone and Senator Stern’s office, a press conference and die-in for SB 1509 was held on May 13th, which saw increased coverage and support for SB 1509, and more than 15 organizations joined in support of the bill. Our organizational partners, Street Racing Kills joined us at the Capital for this press conference.
SAFE strongly endorses and supports SB 1509 because of its potential to decrease speeding and increase road safety on California roads, solutions that have been at the heart of SAFE’s legislative agenda. SB 1509 is expected to improve road safety and save lives.
As the bill moves into the Assembly, SAFE looks forward to providing continued support and urges more organizations to join in supporting SB 1509.
More information about SB 1509 can be found here.
To watch the floor debate: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xplgn1DoMgo
To watch the press conference: (276) Sen. Stern: SB 1509, The NOT in California Act - YouTube
Interested organizations wanting to support SB 1509 can sign onto this coalition letter.