New Laws Will Effectively Put Restrictor Plates on Vehicles of Reckless Drivers To Prevent Them From Exceeding Local Speed Limits

USA Today – Beware, bad drivers: Some states are passing laws that punish reckless driving with devices that control vehicles' top speeds.

Washington State recently became the second state in the U.S., joining Virginia, to enact a law placing speed-limiting technology in the cars of drivers with reckless driving records. Washington, D.C., also has a similar law.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed a law in May requiring drivers whose licenses are suspended for reckless driving to have intelligent speed assistance (ISA) devices installed on their cars if they want to drive again immediately.

The anti-speeding technology would monitor the driver's speed and prevent their vehicle from going over local speed limits. The law comes as Washington's state traffic safety commission reported that fatal crashes involving speeding drivers increased nearly 40% between 2019 and 2023.

Honestly that sounds kinda dangerous. It doesn't happen especially often, but there's certainly been some times when I've merged onto a busy interstate, and there's been a semi-truck coming up on me in the right lane who can't get over, and by far the safest thing to do is hit the gas to get ahead of him, rather than slow down in midst of heavy traffic with cars accelerating behind me. I mean, if you're a good driver you'll figure out a way to be fine without hammering the pedal in situations like that. But it sure feels safe to have the option.

Although if you want to argue it's more dangerous to give a reckless driver free will than it is to take away his ability to go pedal down in the rare situation he really needs to do so, that's probably fair. These laws are targeting multiple time offenders who refuse to drive the speed limit despite being pulled over time and time again in relatively short succession. At that point, it's not even so much about driving a "safe speed", as it is to be driving over the speed limit without the wherewithal to be on the lookout for cops. Any experienced driver who isn't driving a car that shakes like Michael J. Fox anytime it gets on the highway can pretty safely do 85 in 65, and if they're aware of their surroundings will see the cop parked up ahead in time to get down to a legal speed. If you've been arrested for driving 20+ mph over the speed limit 5 times in a year, that just means you're not paying attention to the road. Drivers who are that bad at not getting pulled over probably shouldn't be given the ability to drive as fast as they please. 

But regardless of who you are, having an "Intelligence Speed Assistance Program" installed in your car has to be fucking infuriating. At least on certain roads. There's certain places (I feel like outside of Chicago is one of them, if I remember correctly) where the speed limit is maybe 50, but there's not a soul on the road going any less than 65. I've been driving places where I'm trying hard to not speed, and I feel like I'm going insane because the speed limit signs are a full 20 mph lower than the flow of traffic. That's another situation where is downright less safe to be driving the speed limit. For the states that are putting this law into effect, it'd be nice if they made sure all their road's speed limits were at least close to matching the regular flow of traffic.

I don't know if they're going have a leg to stand on, but once these speed assistance programs are put in people's cars, there will 100% be an accident that happens where the driver blames it on not being able to speed up and get out of the way, and they're 100% going to sue the city. Not sure if they'll be able to win that or not, but you know that situation is going to come up at some point. 

However, I was pleased to see in the article that Georgia is considering this. If you don't think Kirby Smart has a hand in that law passing so he can keep his speed racing football team on the field this year... well... never mind... his Fast & Furious football players don't actually miss games when they're caught driving 280 mph through a school zone. But maybe it'll help the Georgia Bulldogs avoid a little negative PR.

Who the hell am I kidding. Kirby Smart, nor a single other Georgia football coach or fan gives the slightest shit about negative PR. Who cares about a little bit of illegal drunk street racing. As long as his players don't humiliate the program by meeting up with some old friends on the field after a loss, the Georgia Bulldogs are free to do as they please.

SI.com – Tracking driving-related incidents in Georgia football program since 2023

January 2023
- Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and football staffer Chandler LeCroy are killed in a single-car accident that also hurt lineman Warren McLendon and recruiting staffer Victoria Bowles on the night of UGA’s national title celebration.

February 2023
- Bulldogs linebacker Jamon Dumas-Johnson is arrested on misdemeanor charges of racing on the highway and reckless driving for an incident on Jan. 10, the day after Georgia’s national title win.
- Georgia offensive lineman Aliou Bah is pulled over for going 65 mph in a 45 mph zone and ultimately receives 12 months probation.
- Georgia wide receiver De’Nylon Morrissette stopped for going 81 mph in a 45 mph zone.
- Bulldogs edge rusher Marvin Jones, Jr. stopped for driving 93 mph in a 65 mph zone.

March 2023
- Ex-defensive lineman Jalen Carter brought in on misdemeanor charges of reckless driving and racing in relation to the incident that resulted in the deaths of Willock and LeCroy. Carter was finally released on bond and allowed to return to the NFL Combine.
- Defensive lineman Christen Miller stopped for driving 95 mph in a 65 mph zone.
- On the same day, Georgia back Kendall Milton is stopped for going 79 mph in a 65 mph zone.

May 2023
- Morrissette was stopped for driving 91 mph in a 55 mph zone.
- Morrissette is arrested on charges of DUI and drug possession and driving on a restricted license.
- Georgia wide receiver Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint is arrested on reckless driving and speeding charges.
- Rosemy-Jacksaint is stopped for reckless driving and going over the speed limit.

July 2023
- Georgia edge rusher Samuel M’Pemba is issued a citation for driving 88 mph in a 55 mph zone.
- Bulldogs defensive lineman Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins is stopped for speeding and then arrested on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court for a different parking violation.
- Georgia player connection coordinator and former linebacker Jarvis Jones is arrested on charges of reckless driving and speeding at maximum limits.

March 2024
- Georgia running back Trevor Etienne is arrested on DUI and reckless driving charges.

May 2024
- Wide receiver Sacovie White is arrested on reckless driving charges and for driving down a one-way roadway.

July 2024
- Georgia offensive lineman Bo Hughley is arrested for reckless driving and failing to maintain proper lane/improper driving on a road.
- Bulldogs linebacker Smael Mondon is arrested for reckless driving and racing on the streets. Those charges are dismissed.

September 2024
- Georgia cornerback Daniel Harris is arrested on charges of reckless driving, affixing materials that reduce visibility of windows, no proof of insurance, and operation of an unregistered vehicle without a valid license plate.

March 2025
- Offensive lineman Marques Easley involved in an accident at an Athens apartment complex.
- Wide receiver Nitro Tuggle was arrested on speeding and reckless driving charges.

Almost bit off more than I could chew with that one. Even for a copy-paste job.