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Repeat DUIs
still a problem in Washington communities
House
Republicans offer solutions
House Republicans are
working together for solutions that would penalize and prevent motorists
who drive under the influence (DUI).
Rep. John Ahern, R-Spokane, will introduce legislation during the
2008 session that would decrease the number of DUI convictions a person
can have before being charged with a felony.
Ahern successfully passed legislation in 2006 to make a person’s fifth
DUI conviction in a 10-year period an automatic felony.
“My legislation made progress getting drunks off the roads, but we still need to
strengthen the law substantially,” Ahern said. “If we make it a felony
to have three DUI offenses in 10 years, that will get people’s
attention and, hopefully, get them off our roads.”
The recent accident involving a repeat DUI offender in Seattle reinforces
the issue, said Ahern. The driver took the life of a Tacoma woman and put
a young man in the hospital after she drove the wrong way down the
busy Interstate 5 in Seattle.
Rep. Kirk Pearson, R-Monroe, sponsored
House Bill 1340 in the last
session which would create uniform standards for alcohol and drug
assessments for people charged with driving under the influence of drugs
or alcohol. The bill received strong bipartisan support but failed to
receive a vote in the House.
“Requiring drug testing and background information is essential for
assessing whether a person is a danger or not,” Pearson said. “We need
checks and balances in our system to make sure we aren’t sending someone
back into the community to cause irreparable damage. Uniform drug
testing will lead to better assessments of those out on community
supervision and improve public safety.”
Pearson added that his legislation creates a level of accountability
that mandates any offender who receives drug or alcohol counseling
submits to a urine analysis to make sure the person is clean and
sober. And, he said, because drug and alcohol testing does not always
take place when a person convicted of DUI checks in with their probation
officer, the legislation is needed to keep families safe.
The 2008 legislative session is scheduled to convene Jan. 14, 2008.
# # #
For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
or
Sarah Lamb, Public Information
Officer: (360) 786-7720.
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