SCS/SB 805 - Under current law, persons who cause physical injury or death to a person by failing to yield the right-of-way are subject to additional monetary penalties and driver's license suspensions (Section 304.351). Under current law, a person who causes physical injury to a person by failing to yield the right-of-way shall be assessed a penalty of up to $200 and may have his or her driving privilege suspended for 30 days. This act increases the penalty from "up to $200" to "up to $1,000", with a minimum penalty of $500.
Under current law, a person who causes serious physical injury to another by failing to yield the right-of-way is subject to an additional penalty of up to $500 and may have his or her driving privilege suspended for 90 days. This act increases the penalty from "up to $500" to "up to $3,000", with a minimum $1,000 additional penalty. The act further makes the 90 day suspension mandatory rather than discretionary.
Under current law, a person causes the death of another by failing to yield the right-of-way is subject to an additional penalty of up to $1,000 and may have his or driving privilege suspended for 6 months. This act increases the additional penalty from "up to $1,000" to "up to $10,000", with a minimum $5,000 additional penalty. In lieu of a discretionary 6 month suspension, the act requires the court to issue an order of suspension of up to one year, but no less than 6 months. In addition, the person who causes a fatality by failing to yield the right-of-way must successfully complete a driver-improvement program (Section 304.351).
STEPHEN WITTE