This Moderator is somewhat violating TOU by this double posting, but given the wretched difficulty in merging similar threads and so on, I'll step over the line and re-post what I had written Sunday evening, now significantly augmented:
As far as Ohio is concerned, I should think the state would want to be most concerned about what esp. a Democratic administration - but likely a Republican one as well - would suggest to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concerning how to allocate highway funds to a state that bucks any nationwide coordination of vehicular functions, statuses and mandates.
A properly functioning federal bureaucracy need balance states' rights with citizens' rights. In a geographically fluid society, the possibility of one state crafting laws that fundamentally affect citizens of other states - and in this case, a lot of them - is an area in which the oversight of a federal authority most definitely is appropriate.
Nonetheless, there are few recourses such a federal department legally has at its disposal. In this specific instance, however, the FHWA is in the enviable situation of having very significant purse strings. All states craft their highway budgets closely as a function of what they will be receiving in FHWA matching funds. The FHWA has great leeway in determining what funds go where - were they to rule (correctly, in my opinion) that such an Ohio statute, if enacted, would lessen road safety, would thwart drivers from other states, would disrupt nationwide traffic - any or all of those or more big picture events - then it would definitely be within its purview to curtail funds to Ohio.
Whether or not it will die aborning, both for its own sake and that of future attempts both in Ohio and in other states, the track of this bill needs be watched closely.
As far as Ohio is concerned, I should think the state would want to be most concerned about what esp. a Democratic administration - but likely a Republican one as well - would suggest to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) concerning how to allocate highway funds to a state that bucks any nationwide coordination of vehicular functions, statuses and mandates.
A properly functioning federal bureaucracy need balance states' rights with citizens' rights. In a geographically fluid society, the possibility of one state crafting laws that fundamentally affect citizens of other states - and in this case, a lot of them - is an area in which the oversight of a federal authority most definitely is appropriate.
Nonetheless, there are few recourses such a federal department legally has at its disposal. In this specific instance, however, the FHWA is in the enviable situation of having very significant purse strings. All states craft their highway budgets closely as a function of what they will be receiving in FHWA matching funds. The FHWA has great leeway in determining what funds go where - were they to rule (correctly, in my opinion) that such an Ohio statute, if enacted, would lessen road safety, would thwart drivers from other states, would disrupt nationwide traffic - any or all of those or more big picture events - then it would definitely be within its purview to curtail funds to Ohio.
Whether or not it will die aborning, both for its own sake and that of future attempts both in Ohio and in other states, the track of this bill needs be watched closely.