🖥️ Now Live! The Committee on Transportation & the Environment chaired by @marycheh is holding a bill hearing on one of my first pieces of legislation:
B24-0111 - Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Amendment Act of 2021
The Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Act would:
✅ offer defensive driving courses to all DC drivers (currently limited to those 50+ years old)
✅ update course criteria to match #VisionZero
✅ give corresponding reductions in car insurance premiums
ANC 4B08 Commissioner Alison Brooks describes this legislation as a win-win for the community that will lead to safer driving and reduce insurance costs. She discusses her own experience with defensive driving courses that have been helpful.
Naima Jefferson of @SPCADC supports the bill as a way to make our streets safer and advance #VisionZero as an important tool to prevent traffic fatalities.
And Kurt Gray, who directs driving education for @AAAnews, testifies in support of the Motor Vehicle Accident Prevention Act as a way to engage more drivers around safe driving.
"Developing safe, more conscientious drivers will benefit us all."
Now @dcdmv Director Robinson speaks in support of the purpose of the legislation, offers specific amendments, and offers to work with the Council to fine tune the bill as it moves through the legislative process.
That's a wrap! Thank you Ms. Jefferson, Mr. Gray, Commissioner Brooks, and Director Robinson for your thoughtful testimony and responses. And thank you @marycheh for chairing this hearing. Looking forward to moving this bill forward to help make our streets safer.
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Police chases are inherently dangerous and should only be used when absolutely necessary.
That's why I introduced the Law Enforcement Vehicular Pursuit Reform Act, legislation to protect the safety of residents by restricting police chases in DC.
The bill would:
✅ ban police chases unless a person is suspected of violent crime, the pursuit is needed to prevent death or serious injury, and the pursuit is not likely to seriously harm anyone
✅ provide guidance on when to pursue someone
✅ prohibit dangerous pursuit tactics
The bill aligns with the recommendations of DC’s Police Reform Commission, which found that police chases are dangerous, that MPD does not follow its own policies, and that the DC Council should reinforce restrictions through legislation.