Families push for tougher DUI law
Proposed bill would increase penalties for homicide by vehicle while DUI
HARRISBURG » Two Chester County families were among those advocating for effective state laws to “combat never-ending DUI crashes and resultant deaths and injuries.”
Fifteen Pennsylvania families who lost children in DUI-related crashes joined lawmakers, including state Sens. John Rafferty and Scott Martin, Rep. Keith Greiner, and Lancaster County District Attorney Craig Stedman in Harrisburg on Tuesday to advocate for Senate Bill 961.
Rafferty, R-44th Dist., introduced the bill in an effort to improve Pennsylvania’s DUI laws.
Martin was the primary co-sponsor as his SB 635 was amended into SB 961. Changes to existing laws under SB 961 would include: 1) Felony penalty for a third-time DUI conviction within 10 years, if the third offense is high blood-alcohol con-
tent of .16 or higher; and in all other cases at fourth offense. 2) Increased penalties for homicide by vehicle while DUI or DUID, specifically: if convicted of a prior DUI, the minimum sentence for causing a death is five years; and 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 DUI-related license suspension.
Liam Crowley, 24, of Tredyffrin, was killed in April 2013 in Chester County by a drunk driver who had seven prior DUI arrests. The other driver had a suspended license due to his prior DUI and his arrest for the accident that killed Crowley marked his eighth DUI arrest. Liam’s father Pat is among those advocating for changes that calls for stricter penalties for repeat DUI offenders.
SB 961 will address repeat DUI offenders and individuals that continue to drive illegally on a DUIrelated suspended license. PA PAID said both of these groups are part of the highrisk population that is the cause of the majority of deaths and injuries related to DUI in Pennsylvania. The proposed law would result in more series penalties for repeat future DUIrelated offenses.
“Many of us have found out too late that the DUI laws in Pennsylvania are outdated and ineffective,” said Chris Demko, founder of PA PAID. “In many cases the loss of a loved one could have been prevented if our state had more effective legislation that is currently in place in numerous states.”
Demko, of Lancaster County, lost his daughter Meredith to a repeat drunk driver in 2014. She was 18 and the other driver was 19.
Currently, a repeat DUI offender who is convicted of homicide by vehicle while DUI, is subject to no more than a three-year minimum sentence, regardless of the prior DUI history. Pennsylvania is one of only four states that does not treat repeat DUI as a felony, regardless of the number of prior DUI convictions.
Miles Hannagan would have turned 23 on Wednesday, but he, along with his sister Charlotte, were killed by a drunk driver in 2015 in Uwchlan Township. The day prior to his birthday, his parents Maggie and Paul, were advocating in Harrisburg for the proposed bill. That night they attended the open house at Good Fellowship Ambulance, where Paul is now a volunteer EMT. Miles had also served there as a volunteer EMT.
PAPAID.ORG is a grassroots organization of parents that have lost children to DUI offenders in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was created to bring together these parents and families to have their voices heard in Harrisburg and help create something positive out of all their losses and save future lives.