Alert: AAA and others back negligent-killing-by-auto bill but does the legislature?
Before getting into the meat of the matter let's see if I can bring the point home with some pictures (keep in mind ~2 people die daily on Maryland roads):
The chart below shows the percent Maryland pedestrian fatality rate is above the National Average:
All traffic fatalities per FARS data from 2003 - 2007 (the most currently available):
Click the picture for more statewide detail.
By Michael Dresser - Baltimore Sun
AAA Mid-Atlantic will join other supporters at a noon new conference in Annapolis to rally support for a pending bill that would create a new charge of "negligent homicide by motor vehicle" that could be applied in cases where a person's bad driving leads to the death of another.
The legislation would fill a gap between the traffic offense of negligent driving and the felony of vehicular manslaughter -- a charge that is difficult to prove without evidence of extreme negligence such a drunk driving. The new charge would be a misdemeanor punishable by a three-year prison term and a $5,000 fine.
AAA's Mahlon G. "Lon" Anderson will be joined by family members of crash victims and by General Assembly sponsors of House Bill 388 and Senate Bill 870.
Advocates contend the current law often lets drivers "get away with murder" and get only a traffic ticker. There's some merit to that, particularly because Maryland law allows someone charged with negligent driving to pay the fine by mail and not appear in court to face the survivors of the victim. But the three-year term for what is essentially the unfortunate result of bad driving, could be seen as disproportionate.
The law make clear that simple negligence is not enough to merit the charge. It defines the offense as a "failure to perceive" a risk that "constitutes a substantial deviation from the standard of care that would be exercised by a reasonable person."
That offense sounds worthy of a hefty fine, significant driver's license sanctions and community service -- penalties not available under the negligent driving statute. ...
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/news/traffic/2010/03/aaa_others_back_negligentkilli.html (Some interesting comments on the site as well.)
Action: *IF* your representative is on one of the following list please contact them by following the link.
To find your representative: http://mdelect.net/electedofficials/
Support Senate Bill 870 Criminal Law - Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Criminal Negligence (When emailing remember to include bill number, title, your position (support or oppose,) your full name. address and phone number.)
SENATE JUDICIAL PROCEEDINGS COMMITTEE
Brian E. Frosh, Chair (410) 841-3124, (301) 858-3124
Lisa A. Gladden, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3697, (301) 858-3697
James Brochin
Jennie M. Forehand
Larry E. Haines
Nancy Jacobs
Alex X. Mooney
C. Anthony Muse
Jamin B. (Jamie) Raskin
Bryan W. Simonaire
Norman R. Stone, Jr.
Support House Bill 388 Criminal Law - Manslaughter by Vehicle or Vessel - Criminal Negligence (When emailing remember to include bill number, title, your position (support or oppose,) your full name. address and phone number.)
HOUSE OF DELEGATES JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Joseph F. Vallario, Jr., Chair (410) 841-3488, (301) 858-3488
Samuel I. Rosenberg, Vice-Chair (410) 841-3297, (301) 858-3297
Curtis S. (Curt) Anderson
Benjamin S. Barnes
Jill P. Carter
Frank M. Conaway, Jr.
Kathleen M. Dumais
Don H. Dwyer, Jr.
William J. Frank
J. B. Jennings
Kevin Kelly
Benjamin F. Kramer
Susan C. Lee
Gerron S. Levi
Susan K. McComas
Tony McConkey
Victor R. Ramirez
Todd L. Schuler
Luiz R. S. Simmons
Michael D. Smigiel, Sr.
Kriselda Valderrama
Jeffrey D. Waldstreicher