CHAPTER 254

HB 652 - FINAL VERSION

18apr01...0183h

26june01...1854eba

2001 SESSION

01-0067

10/09

HOUSE BILL 652

AN ACT relative to the penalties for reckless or negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

SPONSORS: Rep. R. L'Heureux, Hills 18; Rep. Letourneau, Rock 13; Rep. C. Hall, Hills 18; Rep. Tholl, Coos 5; Sen. Roberge, Dist 9; Sen. Wheeler, Dist 21; Sen. Gordon, Dist 2

COMMITTEE: Transportation

ANALYSIS

This bill adds negligent operation of a motor vehicle as a traffic violation, and clarifies the application of the minimum penalty for reckless driving of a motor vehicle.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explanation: Matter added to current law appears in bold italics.

Matter removed from current law appears [in brackets and struckthrough.]

Matter which is either (a) all new or (b) repealed and reenacted appears in regular type.

18apr01...0183h

26june01...1854eba

01-0067

10/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

In the Year of Our Lord Two Thousand One

AN ACT relative to the penalties for reckless or negligent operation of a motor vehicle.

Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:

254:1 Reckless Driving; Minimum Penalty. Amend RSA 265:79 to read as follows:

265:79 Reckless Driving; Minimum Penalty. Whoever upon any way drives a vehicle recklessly, or causes a vehicle to be driven recklessly, as defined in RSA 626:2, II(c), or so that the lives or safety of the public shall be endangered, or upon a bet, wager or race, or who drives a vehicle for the purpose of making a record, and thereby violates any of the provisions of this title or any rules adopted by the director, shall be, notwithstanding the provisions of title LXII, guilty of a violation and fined not less than $250 nor more than $1,000 and his or her license shall be revoked for a period of 60 days for the first offense and from 60 days to one year for the second offense.

254:2 New Section; Negligent Driving. Amend RSA 265 by inserting after section 79-a the following new section:

265:79-b Negligent Driving. Whoever upon any way drives a vehicle negligently or causes a vehicle to be driven negligently, as defined in RSA 626:2, II(d), or in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger any person or property shall be guilty of a violation.

254:3 Effective Date.

I. Section 1 of this act shall take effect January 1, 2002 at 12:01 a.m.

II. The remainder of this act shall take effect January 1, 2002.

(Approved: July 13, 2001)

(Effective Date: I. Section 1 shall take effect January 1, 2002 at 12:01 a.m.

II. Remainder shall take effect January 1, 2002)