Friday, March 30, 2007
The Georgia General Assembly meets for 40 days each year. The 30th day is "crossover day". That is, to be considered for passage into law, a bill must clear one chamber by that day. The remainder will be shelved until next year. The so-called "super-speeder" bill SB 125 passed. The key provision is as follows:
(b) In addition to any other fines or penalties imposed by any local jurisdiction or the department, the department shall administer and collect fees for the following traffic offenses:(1) Any driver who is convicted of driving at a speed of 85 miles per hour or more on any road or highway in Georgia or 75 miles per hour or more on any two-lane road or highway in Georgia, as defined in Code Section 40-6-187, shall be classified as a 'super speeder,' and a fee of $200.00 shall be imposed;
(2) Any driver who has his or her driver´s license or driving privileges suspended pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (c)(1)(B) of Code Section 40-5-57 or suspended for points pursuant to the provisions of Code Section 40-5-57.1 shall, upon application for reinstatement, be subject to a fee of $100.00.
(3) Any driver who has his or her driver´s license or driving privileges suspended in whole or in part for a conviction for any of the traffic violations listed in this paragraph shall, upon application for reinstatement, be subject to a fee of $200.00. For purposes of this paragraph, 'traffic violations' means a conviction for any of the following offenses:(A) Racing under Code Section 40-6-186;(B) Leaving the scene of an accident under Code Section 40-6-270; or(C) Fleeing from or attempting to elude a police officer under Code Section 40-6-395.
(4) Any driver who has his or her driver´s license or driving privileges suspended and the suspension is partially based on a conviction for any of the traffic violations listed in this paragraph shall, upon application for reinstatement, be subject to a fee of $300.00. For purposes of this paragraph, 'traffic violations' means a conviction for any of the following offenses:(A) Driving a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.04 percent or greater under Code Section 40-5-151;(B) Driving under the influence under Code Section 40-6-391;(C) Feticide by vehicle under Code Section 40-6-393.1;(D) Homicide by vehicle under Code Section 40-6-393; or(E) Serious injury by vehicle under Code Section 40-6-394.
(5) Any driver who has been declared a 'habitual violator' pursuant to Code Section 40-5-58 shall be subject to a fee of $300.00, payable upon application for a regular driver´s license. This paragraph shall not alter the fines and penalties due upon application for a probationary license as provided for in Code Section 40-5-58.
(6) Any driver who accumulates:(A) Seven to nine points under Code Section 40-5-57 shall be subject to a $100.00 fee;(B) Ten to twelve points under Code Section 40-5-57 shall be subject to a $125.00 fee; or(C) Thirteen to fourteen points under Code Section 40-5-57 shall be subject to a $200.00 fee.
To what grand cause will this go to?
(f) All fees collected under the provisions of this Code section shall be deposited in the general fund of this state with the intent that these moneys be used to fund a trauma care system in Georgia and the direct and indirect costs associated with the administration of this Code section. The Office of Treasury and Fiscal Services shall separately account for all of the moneys received under the provisions of this Code section."
The CON laws will remain as is for now.
HB 337, a bill that would have defined general surgery as a single specialty did not pass the House.
The bill discussed in this post, SB 286 did not pass the Senate, so it seems tort reform is safe for another year.
Labels: Georgia, Tort reform, Trauma System Development
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