Most of us know how painful it is to lose someone we care for to drunken driving – or maybe we know someone who has been either injured or involved in a DUI accident or arrest.
State Rep. Steve Kirby commented on this recent story about his friends, Frank and Carol Blair, who lost their daughter last year to a drunken driver. “I’ve talked with the Blairs about their loss. I can’t imagine going through their sorrow. No one should ever have to experience that kind of grief.”
The Tacoma lawmaker is sponsoring three bills to stiffen the punishment for drunken drivers. He said these criminals have been getting off too easily. Kirby’s legislative package goes after first-time offenders, as well as repeat DUIs.
The bills:
HB 1555 sets sentencing ranges for DUI homicide from 6.5 years to 8.5 years for a first offense.
HB 1556 increases minimum penalties for first-time DUI offenders from:
* One day in jail for an offender with a BAC of less than .15 – to three days in jail.
* Two days in jail for an offender with a BAC of .15 or more – to seven days in jail.
* And the offender would be charged the daily bed rate in all cases.
HB 1557 would make a third DUI in 10 years a class C felony.
(NOTE: “DUI” stands for “driving under the influence of alcohol and/or other drugs.” “BAC” stands for “blood alcohol content.”)
Kirby, who is a member of the House Judiciary Committee, hopes the bills will soon receive a public hearing.
Go to Death Clock to see the running total of people killed due to drunken-driving so far this year.
Read Kirby’s full press release here.
