by Jess Leber
With a huge win last night, the state of Maryland took one leap closer to preventing many senseless bicycle deaths.
During the waning hours of the last day of the legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly approved House Bill 363, which provides a new jail term option for “grossly negligent” drivers who cause fatalities on the road. Previously, even reckless drivers’ who should’ve known better were getting off with a traffic ticket for causing someone’s death (seriously, a traffic ticket). The new jail penalty available to prosecutors won’t only serve in the name of justice–public education about these serious consequences will also deter reckless behavior and prevent deaths, in a way similar to strong drunk driving laws.
Victims families and cycling advocates, such as Bike Maryland and the Washington Area Bicycle Association, have been lobbying for passage of this vehicular manslaughter bill for seven years. The American Automobile Association also threw its weight behind passage. But each year prior, the bill remained stuck in one single committee without going anywhere. Today, after some stayed up in last-minute lobbying late yesterday following versions of the bill that ricocheted from the Senate and then back to the House until 10PM last night, all of these hard-working advocates are celebrating. (Read TheWashCycle post here for more details). All that is left is for Governor O’Malley to sign the bill into law, as he is widely expected to do.
That includes long-time Change.org member Kenniss Henry, who is behind the petition in support of the bill that attracted more than 5,000 signatures in the last few months (These signatures were directly emailed Maryland’s elected officials, and were also included in Senate testimony submitted for the bill two weeks ago). Ms. Henry became a significant force in personally lobbying for the bill this year, after she tragically lost her only child, 30-year-old Natasha Pettigrew, in a hit-and-run accident last September. The investigation for that case remains open, but Ms. Henry was appalled when she learned about Maryland’s lax penalties for drivers’ on this issue.
Ms. Henry is so incredibly thrilled that this bill passed, and she seems to have caught the lobbying bug. She noted on the phone to me this morning how much there is still to do to make the roads better for cyclists and educate everyone on how to share the road, and she intends to keep working on these issues. In the meantime, she sadly awaits the results into the investigation of her daughter’s death. At least she is not waiting idly.
Here is a really sweet note Ms. Henry wrote about the victory:
“No words, big or small, can adequately express my gratitude. Last September when I said that I would be going to Annapolis I was naive and idealistic. I had no idea the amount of dedication, commitment and hard work that would be required but I always said I would run the race to finish line. The passing of the Vehicular Manslaughter Bill is a major milestone, a phenomenal accomplishment and speaks to the heart of true teamwork.
No one person could ever have done this; all of the petition support, all of the long-term advocates, family and friends who became as much a part of the fight deserve the credit. When I first became a member of Change.org I did so because of some wrong that needed to be corrected but I never dreamed that Natasha’s death would spark a movement that currently has over 5100 signatures. Certainly, I was happy to get 100 signatures but thanks to the staff at Change.org this movement grew and definitely brought our cause added exposure.
I have learned so much about the process to get a bill signed into law but more importantly, I have learned just how much more needs to be done to assure that we respect all of our shared resources, especially our roads. Thanks for all of your support to make this more than just a dream. “
https://news.change.org/stories/victory-maryland-enacts-stricter-penalties-for-reckless-driversoldId.20110413093435977