Bill Text: VA SB605 | 2016 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Reckless driving; causing death or injury of certain persons, penalties.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-27 - Passed by indefinitely in Courts of Justice (13-Y 1-N) [SB605 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2016-SB605-Introduced.html
16103490D Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia: 1. That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 46.2-867.1 as follows: §46.2-867.1. Reckless driving resulting in death or injury to certain workers; penalties. A. As used in this section: "Emergency medical services personnel" means the same as that term is defined in § 32.1-111.1. "Firefighter" means the same as that term is defined in §9.1-300 and includes any member of a volunteer fire department. "Government employee or contractor" means (i) an employee of the Department of Transportation; (ii) a contractor or employee of a contractor while working under contract with the Department of Transportation; (iii) an employee of a county, city, or town; (iv) a contractor or employee of a contractor while working under contract with a county, city, or town; or (v) employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles appointed or designated as size and weight compliance agents pursuant to § 46.2-217, when such "government employee or contractor" is someone who (a) performs maintenance, repair, or construction of interstate, state highway, or local street or road infrastructures and associated rights-of-way on interstate, highway, or local street or road work zones; (b) operates equipment on interstate, state highway, or local street or road infrastructures and associated rights-of-way on interstates, highways, or local street or road work zones; or (c) performs maintenance work on interstates, state highways, or local street or road work zones. "Law-enforcement officer" means the same as that term is defined in §9.1-101. "Worker" means any emergency medical services personnel, firefighter, government employee or contractor, or law-enforcement officer as defined in this subsection. B. Any person who violates any misdemeanor provision of this article or violates §46.2-921.1 and as a direct and proximate cause strikes a worker who was not in a vehicle, was on a public roadway or work zone, and was engaged in his official duties and thereby causes the death or permanent and significant physical impairment of such worker is guilty of a Class 5 felony, and such person shall be ordered to pay a mandatory minimum fine of $2,500. C. For any person convicted under this section, the court shall suspend the privilege to operate a motor vehicle for one year. In addition, the court may impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000 and the proceeds shall be deposited into the general fund. 2. That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 665 of the Acts of Assembly of 2015 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to §30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice. |