Drivers cross state lines, leaving behind a record – The York Daily Record

November 28th, 2010 | Author: Driver

Hello there! If you are new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on this topic.

David Auble, 24, of Peach Bottom Township received traffic citations for violations such as speeding. He paid fines in Maryland, but the record of the crash never made it on his Pennsylvania driver’s license.

via Drivers cross state lines, leaving behind a record – The York Daily Record.

(There is something odd about this story. The first thing is that Pennsylvania motor vehicle folks COULD use the National Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (NLETS) to query Maryland for a driving record before each renewal. The second is that many states ALREADY swap driving histories when an out-of-state driver receives a citation in another state.

My first question is why two ADJOINING states are not swapping driving records in 2010? It is unconscionable not to share records. Reckless aggressive drivers or drunks could continue driving in their home state with no penalty whatsoever.

In the article I read, “Rendell’s office and Rep. Richard Geist, R-Blair County told him that the only thing he could do was to work with the Maryland legislature toward harsher negligence laws for future cases of traffic fatalities.” That’s poppycock, spin, drivel, and walking away from the facts at hand. Maryland should be forwarding driving histories to other states when residents of those states misbehave here and VICE VERSA. Those other states MUST add those convictions to local records and hold the driver accountable in their state in ADDITION to any fines paid where the conviction took place.

Pennsylvania has a role to play here as well and should not be dancing around the problem or throwing it like a political football. Governor Rendell can initiate changes in Pennsylvania law and make contact with Maryland to do the same. Someone can start the ball rolling.

We encourage Mr. Kohl to make appointments in Annapolis and get the ball rolling here is Rendell’s office decides to sit on this issue. If there was ever a time not to take no for an answer this is the time.)