Rep. Hovey: House Passes Bill to Protect Vulnerable Users of Public Way

Representative DebraLee Hovey (R-112) worked successfully this week to obtain passage of a measure in the State House that would create a crime of second-degree misconduct with a motor vehicle for those whose negligence causes serious injury to “vulnerable users” of a public way.

The measure defines a vulnerable user as a pedestrian, a highway worker on duty, a person driving or riding an animal, a bicyclist, skateboarder, individual in a wheelchair or an operator of agricultural tractor or farm equipment among other things.

“I think it is sometimes easy for people to forget that the highways and roads of the state are legal routes for transportation modes other that motor vehicles,” said Rep. Hovey. “Bikers, horse riders, and others have a right to the safe use of these public ways and this measure creates stiff penalties for those whose negligence causes injury to them.”

Second-degree misconduct with a motor vehicle is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in prison, a maximum fine of $ 2,000, or both. Under the bill, the court must partially or completely suspend the prison term and impose a period of probation. As a condition of probation the offender must attend a motor vehicle operator’s retraining program and perform up to 100 hours of community service.

The bill, HB 5457, An Act Concerning for Harm to Vulnerable Users of a Public Way passed the House by a vote of 140-3. It now heads to the Senate for action there.

This session of the Connecticut General Assembly concludes at midnight on Wednesday May 5th.