From: "Tom Bazan" <tbazan@houston.rr.com>
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Subject: TRANSPORTATION - HIGHWAY SAFETY AND REDUCTION OF HIGHWAY CONGESTION
Date: Wed, 26 May 2004 20:43:16 -0500

I received an inquiry from a highly respected reporter, asking if I had any comment about the West Park Toll Road ramp closure.

Other than the obvious first thought, that NO "Free Fares" were offered, yet the West Park Toll Road enjoyed such immediate heavy "paid" usage that a potentially unforeseen hazard was observed after four weeks of profitable operation. If only we could say the same for METRORail's demented "Demolition Derby" on Main Street which, after 40 accidents since start-up, is underutilized, and just bleeding the taxpayers.

I have been thinking of proposing several ideas, if refined, could go a long way to increasing safety in just such a situation encountered in the Houston Chronicle story.

TRANSPORTATION -
HIGHWAY SAFETY AND REDUCTION OF HIGHWAY CONGESTION

When elected, I will propose a DOT study of the merits of implementing stiff penalties for bad highway drivers, or, for the DOT to encourage the States to implement portions of these suggestions.

The proposed rules listed below, although harsh, would increase highway safety, and likely will significantly decrease highway congestion resulting from accidents which should have been preventable. We must start administering consequences for our bad driving behavior.

The States could recover the program costs from the associated reinstatement fees. Drivers should ultimately see savings in lowered insurance rates.

I would hope to propose, with NO lawyer loopholes:

A mandatory one (1) year suspension of a person's State driver's license if the person is guilty of three (3) moving violation citations on federally subsidized roadways within any twenty-four (24) month period.  The driver would have to undergo rigorous retraining, at their own expense, equivalent to or greater than what is required for a CDL within the suspension period.

A mandatory one (1) year suspension of a person's State driver's license if the person is found to be negligent in the causation of any accident, while operating a motor vehicle on a federally subsidized roadway, that causes any bodily injuries and/or aggregate property damage in excess of $500.00.  The driver would have to undergo rigorous retraining, at their own expense, equivalent to or greater than what is required for a CDL within the suspension period.

Since no good ever came from the abuse of alcohol or drugs, I would also seek these severe sanctions:

A mandatory five (5) year suspension of a person's State driver's license if the person is guilty of operating a motor vehicle on a federally subsidized roadway, while IMPAIRED by alcohol or any drugs, and that there is incontrovertible blood, breathalyzer, and/or video tape evidence of a field sobriety test to substantiate the charge.  The driver would have to successfully complete mandatory substance abuse treatment as well as undergo rigorous retraining, at their own expense, equivalent to or greater than what is required for a CDL within the suspension period.

There must also be a mandatory five (5) year suspension of a person's State driver's license if the person is CHARGED with operating a motor vehicle on a federally subsidized roadway, while IMPAIRED by alcohol or any drugs, and the driver refuses to submit to any blood, breathalyzer, and/or video taping of a field sobriety test to substantiate the charge.  The driver would have to successfully complete mandatory substance abuse treatment as well as undergo rigorous retraining, at their own expense, equivalent to or greater than what is required for a CDL within the suspension period.

There must be a mandatory lifetime revocation of a State driver's license if a driver, while operating a motor vehicle on a federally subsidized roadway, while IMPAIRED by alcohol or any drugs, who causes an accident which injures any person as well as an unborn person. In the event of any major motor vehicle accident involving serious bodily injury, ALL drivers involved will be required to immediately submit to any body fluid testing necessary to document sobriety. Failure to submit to immediate testing should result in the automatic lifetime revocation of that person's driving privileges.

If caught operating a motor vehicle on a federally subsidized roadway, while the person's driving privileges are suspended or revoked, should result in federal detention for one (1) year. This will ensure that we actually take the bad drivers off the federal roads.

There should also be some automatic federal detention time along with a mandatory lifetime revocation of a State driver's license if a driver, while operating a motor vehicle on a federally subsidized roadway, attempts to flee, or evade being stopped by marked police cars. We have seen too many helicopter televised high-speed freeway chases which have risked lives and caused enormous property damage.

Tom Bazan
P.O. Box 2786
Houston, TX 77252

832.673.0018

BAZAN, a long-time real estate broker, appraiser and environmental consultant, is the Independent Candidate for the 18th Congressional District of Texas, running to replace Sheila Jackson-Lee

www.BazanForCongress.com