Summary:

 Senate Bill 265 (SB 265) relates to motor vehicles and increases the penalty assessment for certain misdemeanor violations of the Motor Vehicle Code and the Boat Act. 

Legislation Overview:

 Senate Bill 265 (SB 265) amends the penalty for the following Motor Vehicle Code and Boat Act violations:
•	Amends the penalty for misdemeanor offenses in the Motor Vehicle Code that do not have a specific penalty from up to $300 to $100-$500.  
•	Increases the fine for reckless driving from $25-$100 to $500-$750, and for a second or subsequent conviction of reckless driving, increases the fine from $50-$1,000 to $750-$1,000.  
•	Creates a penalty for careless driving (first offense) of up to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $250-$500, and for subsequent offenses, up to six months in jail and/or a fine of $500-$750.  
•	Increases the fine from $50 to $125 for the following offenses: vehicles subject to registration, bicycle laws, failure to yield, animals on highway at night, improper equipment, operation interference, texting while driving (subsequent violations)
•	Increases the fine from $75 to $150 for: special license plates, 
•	Increases the fine from $100 to $175 for: passing school bus, riding on motorcycles, failure to secure load
•	Increases the fine from $150 to $225 for railroad-highway grade crossing violation. 
•	Increases the fine from $50 to $250 for operation without an oversize-overweight permit; for a second conviction the fine increases from $250 to $350, and for a third or subsequent conviction, the fine increases from $500 to $575. 
•	Increases the fine from $100 to $250 for transport of reducible load with special permit more than six miles from a border crossing (first offense); second offense fine increases from $500 to $575; third or subsequent offenses increase from $1,000 to $1,075. 
•	Increases the fine from $300 to $375 for minor on motorcycle without a helmet, littering
•	Increases the fine from $25 to $300 for open container
•	Increases the fine from $25 to $250 for using a handheld mobile communication device while driving a commercial vehicle (first offense) and from $50 to $300 for subsequent offenses. 
•	Increases fine from $250 to $300 for improper use of travel lane. 
•	Increases the fine from $25 to $100 for: improper display of registration plate, failure to notify of change of name or address, lost or damaged registration, plate or title, horseless carriage registration, transfer of registration and title, expiration of dealer plates, special registration plates, no license display, failure to change address or name on license, permitting unauthorized person to drive, failure to obey sign or signal, pedestrian signs and signals, unfastened safety belt, child not in restraint or seat belt, minimum speed, improper starting/backing/lane/passing, controlled access violation, improper turning, following too closely, failure to yield, pedestrian violation, failure to stop, failure to signal, video screens in automobiles, driving on mountain highways, coasting prohibited, driving while license administratively suspended, improper emergency signal, improper parking, riding in or towing occupied house trailer, improper opening of doors, no slow-moving vehicle emblem, texting while driving (first violation), 
•	Increases fines for speeding, currently ranging from $25 to $200, to a range from $100 to $275.