Safety officials seek tougher highway offense penalties
Feb. 12—With highway fatalities involving New Hampshire youth sharply on the rise, state safety officials sought legislative support Wednesday for a package of bills to increase punishment for those caught speeding over 100 miles per hour, driving the wrong way or refusing to take a blood alcohol test.
Chris Storm, State Police lieutenant and liaison to the Office of Highway Safety, told the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee that it used to be a "big deal" when someone was caught driving over 100 mph.
"Now every time we put the helicopter into the air we get two or three cases of motorists going that fast," Storm said.
Bill Lambert, a Department of Transportation administrator, said cars have been built to go much faster than the maximum target speed that a roadway is designed to safely allow.
"If people are doing twice the design speed, the physics just don't work," Lambert said, pointing to last October when drivers in three straight weeks went airborne over a median on Interstate 95 into oncoming traffic.
Currently, the maximum speeding fine is $500 and a suspension of driving privileges for 60 days.
This bill (HB 482) for driving over 100 would raise the fine to $750 on the first offense with a 90-day license suspension. The fine would go up to $1,000 and a license suspension of up to a year.
The wrong-way driving bill (HB 776) would subject the offender, if found to be impaired, to enhanced penalties used for someone who commits aggravated drunk or drugged driving.
Storm said a majority of those caught driving the wrong way have been using drugs or alcohol.
Committee Chairman Terry Roy, R-Deerfield, said the state has the highest rate in the country of motorists suspected of impaired driving who refuse to take the blood alcohol test.
This is because penalties for those who refuse and those who consent and fail to take the test are the same, he said.
"We don't want to be last in the country for this," Roy said.
In New Hampshire, roughly 70% of such drivers have refused to take the test each of the last three years, while the national refusal rate was about 25%, said Ryan McFarland, the administrator of the hearings bureau that reviews the cases.
Under the bill (HB 466), anyone who refuses to take a blood alcohol test loses their license for one year while those who take the test and fail would still face a six-month suspension.
A repeat case of refusal would carry a three-year suspension, up from two years under current law, McFarland said.
klandrigan@unionleader.com
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Former York County police officer accused of misusing law enforcement database more than 30 times
YORK COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) — A former York County police officer is facing charges after allegedly misusing a law enforcement database dozens of times, court documents show. State Police at York said in a criminal complaint, Sean Lake, 32, of Dover, allegedly made more than 32 queries through the database to get information for his own use. York County Regional Police said they fully cooperated with State Police during the investigation and that it holds all employees to the highest of standards. 'We have fully cooperated with the Pennsylvania State Police throughout the course of this investigation,' the statement reads. 'The Department holds all its employees to the highest standards of ethical, moral, and lawful conduct—both on and off duty. If an employee fails to meet these expectations, appropriate action will be taken to guarantee accountability.' Lake is accused of 'misusing Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) and other systems to surreptitiously obtain demographical information for personal use,' police said in the complaint. CLEAN is also a way for law enforcement in Pennsylvania to access the National Crime Information Center, the FBI's National Crime Information Center, and the International Justice and Public Safety Sharing network. State Police said Lake was first given access to CLEAN in July 2020 when he worked with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission. His access was first switched when he worked with Lower Windsor Police in August 2022. Then again, when he began working with York County Regional Police in September 2023, and remained in place until being barred Jan. 9, 2025. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now There was an audit that was done by State Police that found several instances where Lake allegedly misused the database, the complaint says. Through multiple interviews, Troopers learned that there was no legitimate law enforcement reason for the queries. State Police said a total of 19 people were looked up by Lake through the database, and he allegedly messaged 15 of them through his Facebook. A total of 19 people had their information searched by Lake, and State Police said that he also allegedly searched for or messaged 15 of them on Facebook. Lake had to go through training and answer statements regarding the lawful use of the database before he could access it. Lake faces 32 felony charges of unlawful use of a computer. Lake is out on unsecured bail set at $50,000 by Magisterial District Judge Scott Laird. He is scheduled to be formally arraigned July 10. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Republicans call on Michigan State Police leadership to resign following no confidence vote
Michigan State Police | Susan J. Demas Several Republicans in the Michigan House and Senate on Wednesday called for the director and chief deputy director of the Department of State Police to resign. The call for State Police Director James Grady and Chief Deputy Director Aimee Brimacombe to step down followed a weekend announcement from the Michigan State Police Troopers Association and the Michigan State Police Command Officers Association that said the two groups took a nearly unanimous no-confidence vote against the agency's leadership. Calls for their resignations came from Michigan Senate Minority Leader Aric Nesbitt (R-Porter Township), who is a Republican candidate for governor, state Sen. Jim Runestad (R-White Lake), who is the chair of the Michigan Republican Party, and state Rep. Mike Mueller (R-Linden). Department spokesperson Shanon Banner in a statement defended Grady and his leadership team, whom she said 'provide unwavering support to department members and are proud of the public safety services delivered every day to the public and our law enforcement partners across the state.' The no confidence vote follows a year's worth of discontent between the troopers' association and their leadership. Troopers filed an ethics complaint against Grady and Brimacombe in January. A handful of troopers also filed lawsuits against Brimacombe questioning her leadership, as well. Grady was appointed as director of the department following the departure of former director Joseph Gasper. Nesbitt said the vote of no confidence was a damning indictment on the agency's current administration. 'It is undeniable that this is the absolute worst leadership our state police has ever seen and completely unacceptable for the troopers and public they serve,' Nesbitt said in a statement released Monday. 'There needs to be a change at the top and that change needs to happen immediately. Col. Grady must step down or the governor must relieve him of his duties.' Runestad questioned how Grady and Brimacombe could continue in their roles after more than 1,000 troopers voted against their leadership. 'It has become alarmingly clear that Col. Grady and Lt. Col. Brimacombe's failed leadership has disparaged the reputation of the Michigan State Police,' Runestad said in a statement. 'I demand they step down immediately and urge the governor to relieve them of their duties if they do not resign voluntarily.' Mueller, a former law enforcement officer who has been investigating issues with State Police's leadership and other controversies at the individual post level, said troopers spoke loudly this weekend. 'They have no confidence in the current leadership. It is corrupt, dishonest, and doesn't keep the best interest of its own troopers in mind,' Mueller said in a scathing statement. 'If they have any shame, Grady and Brimacombe should resign right now.' In response, Banner said it has been a priority for Grady to conduct in-person visits to department worksites to listen to member feedback. 'During these visits, he's engaged in meaningful conversations, including seeking input from the membership about morale and opportunities for areas of improvement,' Banner said. 'Under Colonel Grady's leadership, the department has continued to invest in better training and professional development opportunities, updated equipment and improved technology. Further, dozens of new troopers joined the ranks last month and this year's proposed budget includes pay raises for troopers and sergeants.' Banner added that Grady remains committed to the department and 'is focused on moving the department forward while maintaining the department's proud tradition of service through excellence, integrity and courtesy.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
WMass trooper injured in hit-and-run crash while on duty ‘in good spirits'
SPRINGFIELD — A Massachusetts state trooper injured in an hit-and-run collision overnight suffered serious injuries that are not considered life-threatening. 'I can tell you he's in good spirits,' State Police Col. Geoffrey Noble told reporters on Tuesday. 'He's in for a long recovery.' The trooper, who has not yet been identified, had pulled over a tractor-trailer early Tuesday morning and was struck by another motorist on the side of the Massachusetts Turnpike near the Chicopee exit, Noble said. 'He was on the way home after finishing his shift, but state troopers are never off-duty while they're in a marked cruiser,' Noble said, standing outside Baystate Medical Center with some of the clinicians who treated the injured trooper. The driver took off from the crash scene, according to law enforcement officials. 'This was a hit-and-run. The operator did not remain at the scene,' Noble said. The driver was arrested around noon Tuesday, but they have yet to be identified. An arraignment has been scheduled in Chicopee District Court on Wednesday morning. The injured trooper had been with the state police for less than a year, but had been a member of law enforcement for a decade. Noble declined to discuss the charges the driver may face, nor would he go into more detail about the trooper's injuries. The incident happened just after 2:20 a.m., close to Exit 51 on the westbound side of Interstate 90, state police said earlier on Tuesday. The crash is under investigation by Massachusetts State Police and troopers assigned to the Hampden County District Attorney's Office. Anyone with information on the crash is urged to call 413-505-5993 to speak with state police detectives with the district attorney's office. Noble said the crash that injured the trooper puts a fine point on the importance of careful driving. He also emphasized the importance of the 'Move Over' law in this state, requiring drivers to move over a lane if they spot first responders pulled over on the side of the road. 'We want to ensure that you drive in a safe manner and drive in a sober manner,' Noble said. MassLive's Irene Rotondo contributed to this report. Springfield grants $3.5M for 19 preservation projects, rejects 1 housing request Amherst Cinema presents free short film festival in celebration of Juneteenth Springfield, Longmeadow PDs warn of scams with officers demanding Bitcoin, other payments 400 hungry WMass families fed with donation effort by Price Rite, partners Read the original article on MassLive.
