Posted April 5, 2006   Email   Print

West Virginia passes law increasing penalties for reckless drivers who injure others

In September, 2004, a driver turned left in front of motorcyclist Danny Kneisly and killed him. The driver was fined $20 for a right-of-way violation.

A year and a half later, something good came out of that tragedy.

West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, himself a motorcyclist, has signed a bill that local motorcycle activists call "Danny's Law," which increases penalties for reckless driving convictions. Kneisly's death added momentum to efforts to pass the bill, but ABATE of West Virginia, AMA staff and members, and other motorcycle activists have been working toward passage of the measure for years.

"While this law addresses reckless driving rather than right-of-way violations, it's in perfect harmony with the goals of the AMA's Justice for All campaign," said AMA Legislative Affairs Specialist Imre Szauter. "West Virginia deserves credit for recognizing that drivers who seriously injure others should be held accountable for their actions."

The new law provides for penalties of a minimum of 10 days in jail and a maximum of six months, and/or a fine of at least $50 and up to $1,000, for those convicted of reckless driving if they seriously injure someone.

"We've been working on this issue for five years, but when Danny's widow, Jeannie, came on board, it really gave us a new head of steam," said Don "Duck" Smith of ABATE.

The AMA Justice for All campaign is focused on inadequate sentencing of drivers who seriously injure or kill others on the road. Learn more about the Justice for All campaign here.

© 2006, American Motorcyclist Association