New York is moving forward with a proposal aimed at curbing reckless driving by introducing legislation that would require the installation of speed limiters in vehicles belonging to repeat offenders. Governor Kathy Hochul is set to unveil a program that targets drivers with a documented history of violating speed limits, intending to enhance public safety across the state.
The proposed initiative, as outlined in Hochul’s State of the State book, will mandate the installation of Intelligent Speed Assistance systems in vehicles of offenders who repeatedly flout speeding laws. These systems utilize GPS technology to ensure that vehicles do not exceed the posted speed limit by more than a few miles per hour. New York City has already implemented a pilot program using similar devices in its municipal fleets, providing a testing ground for this approach.
Should the pilot program demonstrate effectiveness, communities throughout New York will have the opportunity to adopt the system. Currently, penalties for speeding in the state can be severe. For instance, a driver caught exceeding the speed limit by up to 10 mph may face a maximum fine of $150 and up to 15 days in jail. More egregious violations, such as driving over 30 mph above the limit, can result in fines reaching $600 and potential jail time of up to 30 days.
Despite stringent fines, some drivers continue to exhibit reckless behavior. In 2024, New York City reported numerous speed camera violations, with some repeat offenders accumulating over 500 speeding tickets. One individual reportedly received 562 tickets, highlighting the inadequacy of current punitive measures to deter such actions.
This push for speed limiters is not the first of its kind in New York. State Senator Andrew Gounardes introduced Senate Bill S4045C in 2025, which sought to establish a similar mandate for repeat offenders. This bill aimed to bypass a pilot phase, directly implementing the initiative statewide. Under Gounardes’ proposal, a “repeat offender” would be defined as someone receiving 16 or more speed camera tickets in a year or accumulating 11 or more points on their license within an 18-month period. Unfortunately, this bill did not progress past the state’s Assembly Committee and was returned to the Senate on January 7, 2026.
As Governor Hochul’s proposal moves forward, it presents an opportunity for a more robust approach to combating reckless driving. The success of this initiative could pave the way for similar programs across other states, emphasizing the importance of innovative solutions to enhance road safety.
