People who get behind the wheel after their licenses are suspended are four times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes than other drivers, the co-author of a national report, “Unlicensed to Kill,” said Monday.
After analyzing fatal crashes, the study concluded that operating-after-suspension drivers “are over-involved, and are more dangerous as drivers,” said Robert Scopatz, a traffic safety expert in Texas who co-authored the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety study.
The analysis showed that Maine has one of the lowest proportions of motorists operating after suspension who are involved in fatal crashes. “That’s not to say you don’t have your share, but the assumption is Maine is doing something right.” Either officials are handling the problem well, or Maine citizens are more law-abiding than other states, Scopatz said.
Several reasons why drivers operating after suspension are more dangerous is “they’re riskier” and more inclined to break laws. They have big problems in their lives. Obeying traffic laws isn’t a priority, Scopatz said.
People driving after suspension are a mixed group. Some lost their license for reasons that has nothing to do with bad driving, such as not paying child support. All are considered risk-takers for breaking some laws. However, in the group are what Scopatz called “hard core” offenders.
Those will continue driving unless they’re in jail, Scopatz said. “When these people are called to a court hearing, if you stake out the parking lot you’ll usually see these guys drive to their hearing.”
The chances of their getting caught are low, so they don’t have a lot of incentive to obey the law, he said.
They often don’t respond to mailed legal notices telling them their license is suspended. Tougher laws and harsher punishment doesn’t always work. “States are doing a lot of things trying to stop them,” Scopatz said. “But if you take away their vehicle, they borrow one or rent one. There are some rental agencies who don’t check.”
Still, it’s important to find them and try to keep them from getting behind the wheel as long as possible, he said. Identifying who they are can be done through motor vehicle or criminal records. Publishing a list of the worst offenders or somehow informing the public who they are would help police, Scopatz said. “Law enforcement needs that help. They can’t be everywhere.”
An informed public is the reason why Scott Hewitt was arrested Saturday for driving without a license, after he had been arrested July 29 for driving without a license after crashing into a sedan, fatally injuring the driver. State police Sgt. David McPherson arrested Hewitt on Saturday after a man called police to tell them that Hewitt was still driving.
Some of the other recommendations in the report urge states to:
• Pass and enforce tougher laws to take and suspend drivers’ licenses.
• Allow officials to seize license plates at the scene.
• Create vehicle impoundment and seizure programs.
• Mandate special license plates or stickers as an automatic probable cause for a traffic stop.
• Establish mandatory jail time for multiple offenders.
• Reduce the use of plea bargaining.
• Provide timely and accurate driver history records.
• Block registration of vehicles by drivers without licenses.
The report is available at www.aaafoundation.org/pdf/UnlicensedToKill2.pdf.
Comments are no longer available on this story