A new law in Pennsylvania is starting this month that will require using technology to prevent drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel. Lawmakers say that more anti-drunk driving laws will be passed as well. It is hoped that this getting tough on drunk driving stance will lead to fewer drunk driver deaths and injuries.
There will also be laws passed soon that will make a death caused by a repeat drunk driver the same as 3rd degree murder. This could lead to a 20 year prison sentence.
The new law also requires first time drunk drivers with a BAC of 0.1 or higher have to get an ignition interlock system installed. This prevents them from driving after they have been drinking.
State legislative representatives stated during the most recent session in Harrisburg PA that ignition interlocks are a smart way to stop people from driving drunk. They stated that the new law requiring more use of ignition interlock systems would allow more people to continue to be productive members of society, while also serving their drunk driving sentence.
One of the benefits of the wider use of ignition interlock systems is that more convicted drunk drivers can continue to work, but are assured of driving sober. This prevents the problem of people losing their license but continuing to drive drunk.
The other bill that is pending would increase the penalty for the person who has had more than two offenses in the last 10 years. This crime currently has a minimum 10 day sentence in jail. The new legislation would increase jail time to as much as seven years.
The Pennsylvania state legislature hopes these new tougher drunk driving laws will make the roads safer and will lead to fewer drunk driving deaths.
Our View
Each of our drunk driving and personal injury attorneys in Virginia and North Carolina hopes that more states get tougher on drunk driving. Our attorneys have seen many people seriously injured and killed in Virginia and North Carolina in our legal work due to drunk driving. Anything that can be done to reduce the scourge of drunk driving is worth it.
Another option to punish drunk drivers is to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the convicted drunk driver. This can help the devastated family to get the money they need for their terrible loss. Filing a civil lawsuit also discourages other drunk drivers from making the same terrible mistake. A wrongful death lawsuit can lead to large settlements, such as this $2.4 million settlement we finalized in Virginia.
An experienced personal injury attorney with dual licensure in Virginia and North Carolina, Eric Washburn received a B.B.A. in Finance from James Madison University—initially worked in the information technology field before obtaining his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, Michigan. Once an Assistant Commonwealth’s Attorney in Danville, Va., Eric has been recognized by Super Lawyers Magazine as a “Rising Star” Super Lawyer in Virginia since 2014.
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