Inattentive driving scofflaws best be on alert in Auburn from now on

Published 3:34 pm Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Sometimes motorists get away with blindingly stupid stuff because state and City laws are silent about their particular misdeed.

Inattentive driving, which is a real problem on today’s streets, roads and highways, must be near the top of the list.

Auburn City Council members on Monday night created a new section of the City Code to deal with this very problem.

The new section provides a violation that addresses instances when drivers are inattentive but makes it a lesser violation than negligence or recklessness.

The ordinance defines “inattentive driving” as operating a vehicle in a manner that:

• Fails to maintain a careful lookout for persons or property in the direction of travel

• Evidences a lack of attentiveness required to operate a vehicle and a lack of

• attentiveness that would permit the driver of a motor vehicle to observe anything resting on, or traveling on, or entering the roadway in time to take appropriate action, as circumstances require.

A violation of the new law constitutes a traffic infraction “punishable by a monetary penalty of $250, plus all mandatory court costs, fees and assessments.”

City Attorney Dan Heid said in language attached to the ordinance that “it gives the police a tool that provides flexibility where the violation does not necessarily constitute action that is criminally chargeable, but yet should be addressed as a traffic infraction under City codes.”