Virginia House approves bill to curb speeding offenses

The House of Delegates approved a bill Wednesday that would allow courts to require speed-monitoring devices for drivers convicted of reckless driving or speeding over 100 mph.

The bill, HB2096, which passed by a 81-16 vote, is aimed at preventing speeding in Virginia. 

Under the bill, judges will have the authority to decide if those convicted of reckless driving should purchase and install a Intelligence Speed Assistance Program in their vehicle, unless they exceed 100 mph, in which case the court would be required to order such a device for at least six months and up to two years.

Reckless driving is defined under state law as driving too fast for highway and traffic conditions or exceeding the speed limit by more than 20 mph.

“This bill will give courts the opportunity to require habitual speeders to use a device that will limit their ability to speed while driving and will ensure they are able to continue to get to work and school while keeping our roads safe,” said Transportation Committee Chair Del. Karrie Delaney, D-Fairfax.

HB2096 authorizes the ISA, which uses GPS data that interacts with digitally mapped speed limit data to prevent speeding. 

The ISA systems range from minimal control that display speed limits to mandatory systems that automatically cause the vehicle to comply with speed limits.

Patrick Cushing, a lobbyist for the American Automobile Association, called the bill “a great thing” in his General Assembly testimony supporting the bill on Jan. 15. He said, “25,274 speed related crashes in 2023 resulting in more than 13,000 injuries and 449 deaths. Speed was a factor in nearly half of those crashes.”

“We think this is a good tool to address those dangers,” Cushing added. 

Del. Patrick A. Hope, D-Arlington and Del. Holly Seibold D-Fairfax, were the chief co-patrons of the bill. 

“The members of the committee are invested in ensuring the program increases road safety,” Delaney said. “We wanted to make sure that the courts had discretion to order these speed limiting devices when it is appropriate for the driver.”

Court-ordered participants in the program would be required to install an ISA system, as defined in the bill, in all vehicles they own or register. Driving any vehicle without the system installed would be prohibited under the proposed law. According to the legislation, courts can require that those convicted of reckless driving pay hundreds for these systems, unless a court or Commission decides they can’t afford to pay.   

The legislation also classifies tampering with or attempting to bypass the speed assistance system as a Class 1 misdemeanor. 

The ISA program is relatively new to the U.S. Virginia is one of a few states proposing ISA as an alternative penalty to speeding. The city of Washington D.C. became the first to pass legislation mandating the program in February 2024, which was largely influenced by the Families for Safe Streets campaign according to the FIA foundation. 

“We know that these are the folks that are causing a disproportionate amount of traffic fatalities and injuries on our road. We’re excited about the potential of this technology to improve safety without so much reliance on police officers,” said a spokesperson for Families for Safe Streets in an Instagram video. 

But despite their novelty in America, these devices have gained traction in other parts of the world. According to the FIA foundation, ISA technology has been mandatory for all new European vehicles since 2022. If passed in the Senate and signed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin, HB 2096 would go into effect on July 1, 2026, positioning Virginia as a potential model for similar initiatives in other states.