Michigan Votes Forum

Introduced in the Senate on October 16, 2007

Click here to view bill details.

This bill would create the new misdemeanor of "aggressive driving." This doesn't mean running wild with your car on a crowded street in a fit of road rage. It means any two traffic violations "during a single continuous period of driving." That's right. If a cop spots you turning right on a red light without coming to a full stop, and then you follow too close or slip over the speed limit, Sen. Thomas thinks you're an aggressive driver. You need to hoof it during a mandatory 30-day license suspension and pay up to $2,500 in fines, or sit in jail for up to 180 days if you can't pay. Any city that wants to balance its budget would need only to tell its cops to wait for the second violation before pulling people over, and let the $2,500 fines roll in. What are these people thinking? Any legislator should be kicked out of office for even thinking about giving the police this much power over citizens.

is long overdue. My experience is that one never need wait long to see the second violation in what this bill labels as "aggressive driving" -- one follows the prior almost instantly, from what I see day after day. Sock it to the jerks who endanger others with serial driving misbehavior of the sort listed.

LOL.. that is the most dumbest bill ever,. You might as well punish the entire state while you are at it.

While thinking about punishing those that are reacting to some idiot driver, you should take a look at issueing both parties a ticket. Why should the driver that is being violated pay the price for being a victom? Have you ever had someone pull out in front of you and slam on thier brakes? Have you seen those that speed past everyone else in a lane that they should not be in while your waiting in the proper lane behind everyone that is following the rule. Have you ever had anyone not allow you to pass while they sit in front of you giving you the finger? If your thinking about giving out tickets to someone that has became angry with a driver that thinks they are above the law, maybe you should think about how many more people will do these things to other divers becouse they were ticketed when someone done it to them. All your going to do is create more road rage.

This is a rare traffic law bill. It actually addresses driver behavior that endangers others rather than oneself. The only problem with this bill is that it fails to provide for funding allocated to enforcement. Unenforced laws do not protect and serve the public interest.

Quit making excuses for your own aggressive driving habits -- scapegoating others. You are responsible for your own behavior.

about the idiots that drive 15 under in the left lane, or one of my favorites, the moron that speeds up as soon as they see your turn signal come on to change lanes. If people knew how to drive "road rage" would disappear overnight. The problem with the cops giving out ickets to these road rage causes is that they never see them from their vantage point behind the bridge with their radar gun or behind wal mart catching a few z'sss. The cops are revenue agents and the stupid control freaks on the road like to drive their minivans at 30 mph in a 50. This is what causes your so called road rage.

by the illiterate illogical soon to be recalled idiots running the show.

sad, pathetic, small minded control freak. I would hazard a guess that we can find you most days in the left lane on I-96 going about 50 during light traffic periods. Also the only time you will vary from this speed is if you see that the poor sap behind you might be able to get around you, this will be enough to cause you to go up to 60 to keep the poor saps penned in. In a perfect world the semi truck that you are messing with would just clorinate the gene pool for us.

an ignoramus. So, there! Now that we have the personal name-calling out of the way, let me correct a few accusations tossed in my direction. I am not “small-minded.” I do think and see the world in big-picture terms that takes a view beyond me – beyond my own space, beyond my own convenience and beyond my own most personal interests.. I am a control freak, in that I conscientiously rein in my own impulses and reactions and behaviors, especially when my own impulses, actions and behaviors stand to interfere with or endanger other people – including those with whom I share the roadways. I drive in the right lane, paced with the general flow of traffic. I do not consider the left, passing lane as my own designated cruising lane. I do not weave in and out, and I do not play road games of the sort that “You Are A …” described. I recognize the road as a shared space, and recognize my obligation to share that space responsibly and reasonably. I do not believe the road is my personal playground, to use as I, alone, see fit for my own personal satisfaction and amusement. On the other hand, I daily encounter self-absorbed Yahoos who do see the road as all theirs, alone. They travel at speeds well above or below the prevailing flow of traffic, weave in and out without signaling their lane changes, tailgate, cut me off, flip me off, etc. I welcome legislation that might encourage the cops to stick it right to people like that, and stick it to ‘em hard. They are uncivil ignoramuses, and dangerous. The only problem I see with this bill is that it does not include provision for funding active enforcement of the law.

"weave in and out without signaling their lane changes, tailgate, cut me off, flip me off, etc" on a daily basis my guess is that YOU need some driving lessons.

"I welcome legislation" "The only problem I see with this bill is that it does not include provision for funding" Great, you are for a bigger government that steals more of OUR MONEy to enforce your agenda. Freedom cannot survive the number of Americans who think that the government is there to take care of them. -- Neal Boortz

wrong. But that's what I've come to expect of your sort. Have a nice day. (And get some driving lessons, yourself. I think you probably have real needs in that department.)

if people are always "flipping you off" etc. then maybe the problem can be found in your mirror??????

But thebn, you probably think people that control their own emotions are offensive. Go figure that. I maintain control over my emotions, drive with flow of traffic, exercise proper lane usage, don't taiulgate, don't cut people off, use turn signals as appropriate (and required by law), don't play stomp-on-the-brakes games with people, obey traffic signal lights and stop signs, and generally tend well to my own knitting when I drive (which includes looking out for others). Jerks who flip people off don't. They suffer from truncated emotional and social development. They are a problem, and often are dangerous to others, as well. Many, perhaps most exhibit the pattern of serial violations addressed bvy this bill. It's about time something was done to seize control of our public roads so the safe and sane can go about their business safely and sanely without being constantly assaulted and threatened by the unsafe and insane. This bill is a positive step in that direction. The only defect in this legislation is that it fails to provide funding for aggeressive enforcement. Unfunded mandates are irresponsible. Laws that go unenforced are farce.

"I maintain control over my emotions, drive with flow of traffic, exercise proper lane usage, don't taiulgate, don't cut people off, use turn signals as appropriate (and required by law), don't play stomp-on-the-brakes games with people, obey traffic signal lights and stop signs, and generally tend well to my own knitting when I drive (which includes looking out for others)." Then why do good decent folks feel the need to "flip you off"? Also, you have an interesting choice of words... "seize control, provide funding, threatened by the unsafe and insane, and They suffer from truncated emotional and social development." You sound like a typical lib/socialist that just knows that the world would be better if we all just did what you tell us. Get back to the campaign hillary.

The finger-flipper asks: >Then why do good decent folks feel the need to "flip you off"?< The answer is: I don't think good, decent folks feel the need to flip me off. Jerks who can't control their emotions and juvenile imp[ulses do, though. And there are plenty of jerks on the road, and other places. Are you one of them? The kind of behavior this bill addresses makes our roads dangerous and unpleasant places to be. Putting the clamps on that kind of behavior will make our roads safer and improve the general ambience of Michigan as a place to live, work travel around in. Both of those are constructive outcomes benefitting the vast majority of Michigan residents. That's petty simple. The only reason anyone might have for objecting to this bill's primary content is that he/she sees himself as a potential target of the cops if it becomes law. The only reason to see oneself as a potential target is that one behaves or is inclined to behave in the proscribed manner. That is very simple, as well. As stated on several occasions before, I do have one reservation about this bill. That is, the bill fails to provide for funding to enforce and administer the law it proposes. I believe that is irresponsible on the part of the bill's sponsors. Unfunded mandates and unenforced laws are worthless and even destructive.

I would just like to point out that passing in the right lane of limited access road in MI is not a crime. Furthermore, "waiting your turn" in the left lane is not always approriate either. The left lane is technically for passing slower traffic, so unless you are "passing" someone, you should be in the right lane. The real problem is unrealistic speed limits in many areas combined with drivers who think that because they are going "the speed limit" in the left lane that they have every right to be there, often driving right next to someone going the same speed in the right lane. Pull out into the left lane, accelerate to pass the vehicles in the right lane if there are others who are behind you then return the right lane and drive the speed your are comfortable with. Left lane lurkers are certainly a cause of road rage and should be held responsible knowing how to drive.

It almost sounds like you wrote this bill and now want to go back for some cash.

I could have written this bill. It addresses real concerns with real effect on highway safety. But I didn't. Being a conservative sort, I don't believe in passing laws that won't be enforced. Being a conservative sort, I believe that unfunded mandates are poor public policy. Being a conservative sort I expect to pay for what I get, and I expect to get what I pay for. Being a conservative sort, I'm a pay-as-you-go kind of guy. If this bill is passed and becomes law, it is essential that funding for its enforcement be be provided, because I do expect it to be enforced. Otherwise, it's just more words on paper for the scofflaw road ragers to flip off as they continue to make Michigan roads some of the country's least comfortable and pleasant to drive.

i wouldn't have written an UNNECESSARY LAW TO BEGIN WITH. this law does nothing but copy an already existing law already on the books. conservatives also conserve energy, as in 'why are our legislators wasting our time, money, and energy on this ridiculous law?' road rage is simply ASSAULT, which is already a crime. enforce that crime and road rage is already covered. when the 'enraged one' does something to vent his rage, it's called BATTERY, which is (amazingly) already a crime. enforce that crime and road rage is (amazingly) already covered. if the 'enraged one' kills someone while venting his rage, it's called MURDER, whic is (even more amazingly) already a crime. enforce that crime and road rage killings are automaticaly covered. no need for extra laws, no need for extra law enforcement. just have the police DO THEIR JOB.

"just have the police DO THEIR JOB." That would require that they be pulled off revenue detail and actually do police work. Ain't Gonna Happen.