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The Fast Company article says “Republicans in Virginia just passed a law to make it a punishment for repeated traffic violations.” But the Virginia legislature

The Fast Company article says “Republicans in Virginia just passed a law to make it a punishment for repeated traffic violations.” But the Virginia legislature is currently controlled by the Democrats. And the delegate quoted in this local news story is a Democrat: https://wjla.com/news/local/anti-speeding-device-car-reckless-drivers-virginia-law-legislation-speed-assistance-technology-convicted-driving-over-100-miles-per-house-camera-gps-drivers-license-fines-jail-time-patrick-hope https://wjla.com/news/local/anti-speeding-device-car-reckles... That story is probably more useful than the Fast Company one. It clarifies that the new law gives judges the option to require an ISA device to be installed at the defendant’s expense. > Before the legislation, judges only had the power to suspend a driver’s license, issue fines, or sentence to jail. It does not require manufacturers to pre-install them, and it does not use the electronics built into the car. It sounds analogous to the breathalyzer devices that are an option for judges in some jurisdictions.

shlant 1y ago
lol I had shared the original article to a group with the comment "rare republican policy win" and then had to immediately retract that after reading your comment
matthewdgreen 1y ago
Here are the votes: https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1767611 https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1767611 ETA: click the "Votes" tab.
- Brybry 1y ago
  Which looks bipartisan with Democrats strongly for it and only some Republicans against. Official state legislature bill page for future reference: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2096 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2096
jasonlotito 1y ago
These were the sponsors. Patrick Hope (D)*, Betsy Carr (D), Holly Seibold (D) So, really not sure how the author got to "Republicans in Virginia"
- davey48016 1y ago
  The blurb at the top says "Republicans in Virginia", but the article body only mentions it was signed by a Republican governor. I think those blurbs are often added by someone other than the author, and that someone probably over extrapolated from the governor of Virginia being a Republican.
- mapt 1y ago
  This would be a "man bites dog is news" thing; The pretense is that of course Democrats were in favor, but this time even a few Republicans relented and joined the vote.
tgsovlerkhgsel 1y ago
Just reading phrases like "sky-high rate of crash deaths", "Blazing-fast vehicles" (and similar ones throughout the article) makes it very clear that this is not an attempt to report news, but push an agenda. Reminds me of the "German news is different" video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jphacgBLrc0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jphacgBLrc0) that explains the difference between US "news" and Tagesschau (famous for being considered a neutral, trusted source across most of the political spectrum). Edit to add: Since these are add-on systems, the requirement to install one also imposes a (usually very high) financial cost on the person, and I suspect this may be part of why it's being pushed - it's a convenient way to drastically raise fines without overtly appearing to do so.
- Workaccount2 1y ago
  After decades of reading internet news stories, my brain automatically starts deducting trust points as it encounters more adverbs.
  - jakubmazanec 1y ago
    Stephen King wrote in his book On Writing: I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.
- hulitu 1y ago
  > Tagesschau (famous for being considered a neutral, trusted source across most of the political spectrum). Maybe in a parallel universe. /s
- jerlam 1y ago
  An agenda of... traffic and public safety? While I agree with your interpretation that modern American "news" is trapped into clickbait and outrage headlines, immediately rejecting anything that is perceived as "biased" does not necessarily mean the article is wrong.
  - squigz 1y ago
jollyllama 1y ago
> It does not require manufacturers to pre-install them, and it does not use the electronics built into the car. It sounds analogous to the breathalyzer devices that are an option for judges in some jurisdictions. There's already a law on the books requiring breathalyzers in all new cars by next year: https://live959.com/law-mandates-mass-cars-to-have-breathalyzers-by-2026/ https://live959.com/law-mandates-mass-cars-to-have-breathaly... Presumably, anti-speeding tech will be made mandatory by the same incremental approach in time.
- hcurtiss 1y ago
  Wait -- I have to pay for a breathalizer in my new vehicle because other people can't follow the law? That's BS. I don't drink alcohol and I hate everything about this.
  - hulitu 1y ago
    > That's BS. I don't drink alcohol and I hate everything about this. But you might. Remember, everyone is a potential terrorist. /s
    - caminanteblanco 1y ago
      This isn't reddit
  - const_cast 1y ago
    When it comes to motor vehicles we're CONSTANTLY paying for other people's mistakes. The unfortunate reality is that driving is the number 1 cause of death for most demographics. We cannot treat it like we treat other things, simply due to the extreme risk. That means we have to prevent accidents any way we can and put safety nets where we can. Yes, it sucks that now you're going to have to pay marginally more for your vehicle. If it's any consolation, you're already paying 10x more than you should for the variety of safety structures in place, research, testing, regulations, policing, etc. The fruits of this are real, though. Please look into vehicle fatality statistics.

shlant 1y ago

lol I had shared the original article to a group with the comment "rare republican policy win" and then had to immediately retract that after reading your comment

matthewdgreen 1y ago

Here are the votes: https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1767611 https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1767611 ETA: click the "Votes" tab.

Brybry 1y ago
Which looks bipartisan with Democrats strongly for it and only some Republicans against. Official state legislature bill page for future reference: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2096 https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20251/HB2096

jasonlotito 1y ago

These were the sponsors. Patrick Hope (D)*, Betsy Carr (D), Holly Seibold (D) So, really not sure how the author got to "Republicans in Virginia"

davey48016 1y ago
The blurb at the top says "Republicans in Virginia", but the article body only mentions it was signed by a Republican governor. I think those blurbs are often added by someone other than the author, and that someone probably over extrapolated from the governor of Virginia being a Republican.
mapt 1y ago
This would be a "man bites dog is news" thing; The pretense is that of course Democrats were in favor, but this time even a few Republicans relented and joined the vote.

tgsovlerkhgsel 1y ago

Just reading phrases like "sky-high rate of crash deaths", "Blazing-fast vehicles" (and similar ones throughout the article) makes it very clear that this is not an attempt to report news, but push an agenda. Reminds me of the "German news is different" video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jphacgBLrc0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jphacgBLrc0) that explains the difference between US "news" and Tagesschau (famous for being considered a neutral, trusted source across most of the political spectrum). Edit to add: Since these are add-on systems, the requirement to install one also imposes a (usually very high) financial cost on the person, and I suspect this may be part of why it's being pushed - it's a convenient way to drastically raise fines without overtly appearing to do so.

Workaccount2 1y ago
After decades of reading internet news stories, my brain automatically starts deducting trust points as it encounters more adverbs.
- jakubmazanec 1y ago
  Stephen King wrote in his book On Writing: I believe the road to hell is paved with adverbs, and I will shout it from the rooftops.
hulitu 1y ago
> Tagesschau (famous for being considered a neutral, trusted source across most of the political spectrum). Maybe in a parallel universe. /s
jerlam 1y ago
An agenda of... traffic and public safety? While I agree with your interpretation that modern American "news" is trapped into clickbait and outrage headlines, immediately rejecting anything that is perceived as "biased" does not necessarily mean the article is wrong.
- squigz 1y ago

jollyllama 1y ago

> It does not require manufacturers to pre-install them, and it does not use the electronics built into the car. It sounds analogous to the breathalyzer devices that are an option for judges in some jurisdictions. There's already a law on the books requiring breathalyzers in all new cars by next year: https://live959.com/law-mandates-mass-cars-to-have-breathalyzers-by-2026/ https://live959.com/law-mandates-mass-cars-to-have-breathaly... Presumably, anti-speeding tech will be made mandatory by the same incremental approach in time.

hcurtiss 1y ago
Wait -- I have to pay for a breathalizer in my new vehicle because other people can't follow the law? That's BS. I don't drink alcohol and I hate everything about this.
- hulitu 1y ago
  > That's BS. I don't drink alcohol and I hate everything about this. But you might. Remember, everyone is a potential terrorist. /s
  - caminanteblanco 1y ago
    This isn't reddit
- const_cast 1y ago
  When it comes to motor vehicles we're CONSTANTLY paying for other people's mistakes. The unfortunate reality is that driving is the number 1 cause of death for most demographics. We cannot treat it like we treat other things, simply due to the extreme risk. That means we have to prevent accidents any way we can and put safety nets where we can. Yes, it sucks that now you're going to have to pay marginally more for your vehicle. If it's any consolation, you're already paying 10x more than you should for the variety of safety structures in place, research, testing, regulations, policing, etc. The fruits of this are real, though. Please look into vehicle fatality statistics.