Speeding without a record

Fewer speeding violations could end up on state driving records.

Under current law, a ticket does not appear on someone’s driving record if the person was driving up to 10 mph over the speed limit in a 55 mph zone, or 5 mph over the limit in a 60 mph zone.

Sponsored by Rep. Dean Urdahl (R-Grove City), HF537 would add the 10 mph threshold to the 60 mph limit.

“If you speed, you are still breaking the law and may be punished,” Urdahl said. “This simply gives a break on driving records. It doesn’t change state penalties.” He emphasized the bill has nothing to do with raising speed limits, it’s only about not recording infractions to the state and that insurance companies will not up the rates.

Approved April 5 by the House Transportation Policy and Finance Committee, the bill was sent to the House Public Safety and Crime Prevention Policy and Finance Committee. It has no Senate companion.

Enacted in 1986, the “Dimler amendment,” named for its sponsor, former Rep. Chuck Dimler (R-Chanhassen), governs which speeding violations are recorded on a driving record maintained by the Department of Public Safety.

State Patrol Maj. Ken Urquhart said he’d hate to see someone stopped for going 90 mph able to plea bargain down to the point where the infraction would not go on their record.

Erik Rudeen, state legislative liaison for the Department of Transportation, said the increase would send the message that it is OK to speed. “When speeds are higher than the predominant design speed fatalities do increase. … Increasing that differential could certainly lead to more severe traffic accidents, which is a concern for the department.”

“Is the fear of increased insurance rates an actual deterrent to speeding?,” said Jeff Nachbar, public policy director for the Brain Injury Association of Minnesota.

Urdahl said he wouldn’t proffer the bill if he believed it would cause more injuries and deaths. “I’m convinced there is no evidence that indicates that changing this law is going to cause these things to happen.”