A bill passed by the House to strengthen penalties for all driving offenses which cause serious injury or death is now in the Senate.
Prison time and the loss of a driver's license would be increased for failure to stop at an accident that causes injury or death, driving to endanger, death resulting, or DUI, death resulting.
“This bill is designed to make our highways safer by discouraging dangerous and deadly driving behavior,” said Representative Serpa. “There were 37,888 crashes in Rhode Island last year. Of those, 287 resulted in serious bodily injury, and 52 resulted in death. These tougher penalties will prioritize justice for victims and their families.”
Under the legislation, the imprisonment for those who fail to stop would increase from five to 10 years, and their license would be revoked for at least two years instead of up to two years. The imprisonment for driving to endanger, death resulting, would increase from 10 to 30 years, and license would be revoked for at least five years, instead of up to five years. The imprisonment for driving under the influence, death resulting, would increase from 15 to 30 years, with license revoked for at least five years, perhaps permanently.
Supporters of the bill said tougher sentences will prioritize justice for victims and their families.
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Photo: Kevin Dietsch / Getty Images News / Getty Images