Judiciary Committee Moves Legislation to Increase Penalties for Repeat DUI Offenders Who Commit Vehicular Homicide
HARRISBURG – House Judiciary Committee Majority Chairman Ron Marsico (R-Dauphin) moved legislation to increase the penalties for repeat DUI offenders who commit vehicular homicide today during the Judiciary Committee’s scheduled weekly voting meeting.
“Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol causes tens of thousands of deaths and injuries every year in our state,” said Marsico. “It is obvious to me that penalties need to be harsher in order for us to temper this very serious problem.”
House Bill 1353 would increase the grading of the offense of vehicular homicide while under the influence from a felony of the second degree to a felony of the first degree, and would increase the mandatory sentence from the current three years to five years, where the defendant has been previously convicted of a DUI or another felony traffic offense such as vehicular homicide or vehicular assault.
In addition to House Bill 1353, several other bills moved through the committee this week, including:
House Bill 220 would amend the Vehicle Code to require a person who has been ordered by law enforcement to pull a vehicle over not only to stop, but also to remain in or at the vehicle. Currently, the statute does not apply to a person who pulls a vehicle over, but then flees on foot. Grading of the offense would not change.
House Bill 443 would amend Title 20 by adding “grandchild” to the list of family members to whom a bank may pay the balance of the account of a decedent without requiring the appointment of a personal representative.
House Bill 869 would amend the animal cruelty statute with regard to the provision allowing the sentencing authority to order forfeiture or surrender of any abused, neglected or deprived animal of the defendant to a society or association for the prevention of cruelty to animals following conviction. The bill makes the forfeiture or surrender mandatory, not discretionary.
The bill was amended to limit the mandatory forfeiture to only those offenses graded as a misdemeanor of the first or second degree and felonies applicable to willfully killing or maiming a dog, cat or zoo animal.
The legislation will now go to the full House for consideration.
Representative Ronald Marsico
105th District
Pennsylvania House of Representatives
RonMarsico.com
Media Contact: Autumn R. Southard, 717.652.3721
asouthar@pahousegop.com