Jan 22, 2008
STATE:
Rell wants tougher penalties for teen drunk drivers
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Gov. M. Jodi Rell last week announced proposed changes to state law that aim to crack down on underage drinking and driving.
“There is absolutely no excuse for anyone to get behind the wheel if they are under the influence,” Gov. Rell said. “We need to do a better job of getting that message to sink in with our youngest drivers. The accidents we have seen in recent years involving young people drinking and driving have been utterly tragic.
“To me, these accidents show that simply talking about the problem is not enough anymore. We need to put teeth into our laws that will deter those who even consider drinking and driving from doing so.”
Gov. Rell is proposing the following changes to state law:
- Upon a referral to the Department of Motor Vehicles by the arresting officer for operating under the influence, the license of a 16 or 17 year old will be suspended for a period of not less than one year. The 16 or 17 year olds still have right to a hearing, but there will be no discretion on the length of the suspension. This is an entirely separate and distinct process from the criminal proceeding.
- If the license of a 16 or 17 year old is suspended for operating under the influence by DMV, the 16 or 17 year old must complete a mandatory Substance Abuse Training Program (SATP). Again, this is an entirely separate and distinct process from the criminal proceeding. DMV contracts with private entities to administer the SATP program.
“It is time that we come together as a state and say we are sick and tired of seeing our young people ruin their lives and others’ lives by driving under the influence. We need to show that we are serious about preventing future tragedies. We need to teach our young people that their actions and their choices have consequences. Stiffer penalties for operating a vehicle under the influence will make our roads safer, and that is something we all want.”
In November, Gov. Rell announced the creation of a special task force to examine laws related to teen driving and to explore new ways to raise awareness among teens and their parents about critical safety issues following the accident-related deaths of several Connecticut teens. The task force has been charged with creating a coordinated effort that takes a multi-pronged approach including:
New strategies of awareness and a framework for making the strategies work effectively.
A re-examination of certain penalties associated with violations with which teens are frequently charged.
The creation of a partnership of interested parties statewide that work in targeted and different ways to broadcast the same message about teen driving safety to both parents and teens.
The Gov. charged the group with establishing a timeframe and developing short and long term recommendations.
© Copyright 2008 by Hersam Acorn Newspapers
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