Panel Kills Tougher DUI Penalties (in Wyoming}

http://www.wyomingnews.com/news/more.asp?StoryID=101658 ^ | 03-02-04 | Fashek, Allison

[Theodore R.]

Panel kills tougher DUI penalties

By Allison Fashek rep8@wyomingnews.com Published in the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle

CHEYENNE - Senators killed a bill Monday that would have strengthened penalties for driving under the influence.

The bill's sponsor, Rep. Becket Hinckley, R-Cheyenne, was frustrated after the Senate committee charged with considering the bill failed to debate its merits.

"I think if it made it to the floor, it would have passed," he said.

House Bill 183 proposed changing current law so that after a second DUI conviction, rather than a third, a person would go to jail for a minimum of 30 days and get a substance abuse assessment.

Additionally, the bill would have made three or more convictions within seven years a felony. Currently, the law states four or more convictions in five years equates to a felony.

Hinckley pointed out that three possessions of marijuana as well as three domestic violence convictions are both considered felonies. He added that his constituents have told him this is an important issue to them.

But members of the Senate Judiciary Committee did not even give the bill enough support to vote on it. Only Sen. Keith Goodenough, D-Casper, wanted to give the bill further debate.

Sen. John Hanes, R-Cheyenne, said the Legislature has passed laws enhancing penalties for drunken driving and requiring substance abuse assessment in recent years.

"We haven't had the chance to see if it has been effective or not," he said. "I sort of figure we shouldn't rush to judgment."

Hanes said the committee is interested in creating appropriate penalties for driving under the influence.

"I don't know if we're really settled on what's appropriate or not," he said.

If re-elected, Hinckley plans to bring the bill again next year.

[bassmaner]

Perhaps the tide is turning against the MADDness: the aim of DUI laws has gone way beyond simply getting drunks off the road and into the realm of VIRTUAL PROHIBITION.

For more info, click here and here.

[Atlas Sneezed]

Why can't they make DUI penalties proportional to intoxication? If someone is stinking drunk (<0.12 or 0.15), as opposed to a little tipsy at a checkpoint, he should be treated harshly, and there would be little political opposition to prison even for a first offense.