The emergency measure, which will go into effect upon the signature of Mayor Williams, strengthens the penalties for driving with a counterfeit, stolen or otherwise fraudulent temporary tag. In such cases, the registration of the car's owner and the dealer who provided the fake temporary tag would be suspended or revoked, the fine associated with such offences would increase from $300 to $1,000, and the District may seize the car.

Catania commented, "We need to get serious about enforcing our vehicle registration laws if we intend to get stolen cars off the streets and out of the hands of reckless drivers."

Two other emergency measures authored by Councilmembers Catania and Chavous failed to garner enough support for passage on an emergency basis. The Increased Penalty for Reckless Driving Emergency Amendment Act of 2004, which deals with the currently ineffectual penalties associated with reckless driving, will be considered by the Committee on Public Works within 8 weeks.

"If this isn't an emergency, what is?" Catania questioned. "Our residents are being run down as they cross the street on their way to work. This crime wave is putting people's lives at risk."

Despite impassioned rhetoric, the reckless driving measure and another measure to force a change in the inept current police chase policy were postponed. The Committee on the Judiciary will consider the latter, which authorizes a Metropolitan Police Department officer to engage in vehicular pursuit of an individual operating a motor vehicle in a reckless manner, on June 9.

For more information on this legislation, please contact the Office of Councilmember David A. Catania by calling 202-724-7772 or visiting www.davidcatania.com.