Proposed DUI legislation moves to state House

HARRISBURG >> The Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee moves proposed DUI legislation to the House for a vote that would increase penalties for repeat DUI offenders, including those that injure and kill.

Senate Bill 961 was passed in the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, and the bill now moves to a potential vote on the House floor. It already passed in the state Senate in April. With the limited number of session days remaining prior to elections, Pennsylvania Parents Against Impaired Driving (PAPAID) members are urging the House of Representatives to use this opportunity to pass commonsense legislation that will address DUI

offenders who kill hundreds of loved ones every year across the commonwealth. They added that failure to pass SB 961 will result in additional preventable deaths.

Senate Bill 961 would increase penalties to repeat DUI offenders who continue to break DUI-related laws. Changes to existing the laws would include:

1) Felony penalty for a third-time DUI conviction within 10 years, if third offense is high blood-alcohol content of .16 or higher; and in all other cases at fourth

offense. Pennsylvania is one of only four states that does not treat repeat DUI as a felony, regardless of the number of prior DUI convictions.

2) Increased penalties for homicide by vehicle while DUI, which is currently a three-year minimum sentence regardless of offender’s DUI history. Specifically:

• If convicted of a prior DUI, the minimum sentence for causing a death is five years;

• If convicted of two or more prior DUIs, the minimum sentence for causing a death is seven years.

3) Increased penalties for driving while under a DUIrelated license suspension. PAPAID members said this proposed legislation is a material improvement for Pennsylvania as many of the existing DUI-related laws do not distinguish between first time and repeat DUI offenders as well as those who continue to drive on a DUI-related suspended license. They added that SB961 will clearly send the message that repeat DUI offenders will be expected to learn from their

mistakes and future DUIrelated offenses will result in more serious penalties. They noted PA DUI facts, including that repeat DUI offenders are responsible for approximately 40 percent of all DUI-related fatalities. They added that it is also necessary because in Pennsylvania, an estimated 70,000 to 105,000 individuals with DUI convictions continue to drive on a suspended license.

SB 961 was introduced by state Sen. John Rafferty, who continues to lead efforts to improve PA’s inadequate DUI laws. Sen. Scott Martin was primary co-sponsor as his SB635 was amended into SB961. Rep. Keith Greiner is also involved with efforts in the House.

PAPAID is a grass-roots organization of parents across Pennsylvania who have lost children to impaired drivers. The members’ children have all paid the ultimate price of ineffective DUI/DUID laws in Pennsylvania and its goal is prevent additional senseless deaths and injuries by improving Pennsylvania’s ineffective DUI and DUID laws.