Perdue vetoes tougher penalties for unlicensed drivers

Gov. Sonny Perdue vetoed 41 bills Wednesday. One of them would have increased penalties for driving without a valid state license.

Under the bill, motorists caught without valid Georgia driver's licenses would spend at least two days in prison, and pay at least $500 in fines, unless a judge waived the penalties.

"I fear an unintended consequence of this legislation, as drafted, would subject persons with valid out-of-state driver's licenses to stout criminal penalties even absent the commission of a willful act," Perdue said in a release explaining his vetoes.

The bill's sponsor, Sen. John Wiles (R-Marietta), says he's "extremely disappointed."

"It's an important bill that addresses a real problem throughout the state," Wiles said. "People who have never had a driver's license are driving in Georgia and, in fact, killing Georgia citizens."

Immigrants' rights groups, however, are applauding the governor's veto.

"We agree with the Governor that SB 15 would have had many unintended consequences, similar to the arrest and detention of the Canadian tourist recently in Brunswick, Georgia," said Jerry Gonzalez, director of the Georgia Association of Latino Elected Officials, in a written statement. "Comprehensive immigration reform is moving in our U.S. Congress and will solve the issue of unlicensed drivers among the undocumented immigrant population."

Wiles says his bill does not target any group in particular. He’s vowing to revive his legislation next year.

Advice to Memorial Day motorists: 'Click It Or Ticket'

State law enforcement and public safety officials are telling motorists across Georgia to buckle-up, slow down, and drive sober this holiday weekend.

The Department of Transportation predicts that 18 motorists will die and close to 1,000 will be injured in road accidents from Friday to midnight on Monday.

State police plan on being out in-force statewide throughout the weekend. They’ll be checking cars making sure motorists are wearing seatbelts in their “Click-it-Or-Ticket” campaign.

Over last year’s Memorial Day weekend, nine of the 17 people killed on Georgia roads weren’t belted in, and there were eight alcohol-related deaths.

And, despite a 200-trooper shortage, a State Patrol official says they’re pulling administrative personnel away from their desks, and getting them out and patrolling over roads over the holiday period.

Senate passes bill to cash in on speeders

Super-speeders beware: Drivers caught going faster than 85 miles per hour on the interstate would have to shell out an extra $200, under a bill passed by the Georgia Senate.

“We obviously have a speeding problem in Georgia, with over 1750 people killed on our highways in 2005,” says Sen. Ronnie Chance (R-Tyrone). “At the same time, we need to do everything we can to fund the trauma care network.”

The bill does not guarantee that the money raised from fines would be spent on trauma care, however. Setting aside revenue for a specific program requires a constitutional amendment.

The measure is part of Gov. Sonny Perdue’s legislative agenda.

The legislation now goes to the Georgia House.