Ironically, it took 12 hours for the state Senate to pass a bill last week to double fines on a treacherous stretch of Highway 12.
In another sad twist of fate, the very day Gov. Schwarzenegger signed the legislation, another fatality occurred.
For the many lost lives over the years, we are delighted this bill has become law.
The double-fine zone will cover the stretch from Interstate 80 in Fairfield to Interstate 5 in San Joaquin County.
Now those who speed, drive recklessly or drunk, or commit other safety violations will face needed, steeper penalties.
As an added bonus, the legislation also streamlines the process for designating dangerous highways as double-fine zones throughout the state.
The bill's passage was the climax of a praiseworthy effort to do something - finally - about a vicious road that's claimed an appalling number of lives.
It's an example of how government should work, once the right people put their minds to it.
After five people died in a two-week period in March, Solano County legislators - Assemblywomen Lois Wolk and Noreen Evans and state Sen. Pat Wiggins - joined Caltrans, the California Department of Transportation, the Solano Transportation Authority and the CHP to improve safety.
Among other safety things, the CHP beefed up enforcement and Caltrans installed barriers along the particularly bad areas. But last week's legislation was the culmination.
We hope the higher fines will deter speeders and other traffic violators from taking fate into their own reckless hands.
With Highway 12 averaging more than 10 deaths a year, and an untold number of injuries, it's about time something be done. |