Delaware County Review

State Representative Brian Lorenz (R-Powell) has introduced new legislation aimed at increasing penalties for drivers involved in multiple crashes, with the goal of making Ohio roadways safer.

The proposed legislation introduces the offense of vehicular assault, which would apply to cases where serious physical harm is caused by a misdemeanor traffic offense. This offense would be classified as a first-degree misdemeanor but could escalate to a fourth-degree felony if the driver has been involved in multiple accidents causing bodily harm.

“Mistakes happen,” said Lorenz. “Sometimes we may be at fault for causing a crash. Driving is something that needs to be taken seriously. We can increase the safety on vehicles, but we can’t take the human error of bad driving out of the car, so this legislation will punish those that are chronic bad drivers and hopefully make others be more attentive behind the wheel.”

Additionally, Lorenz’s legislation proposes a license suspension ranging from one to ten years for those convicted of vehicular assault. The length of the suspension would depend on the specifics of each crash.

The bill is currently awaiting assignment to a House committee.