Projo Politics Blog

By Kate Bramson
Journal staff writer

State Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis, D-Coventry, said today he's not surprised that Rhode Island ranks as one of the worst states in terms of curbing drunken driving, a designation given last week by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Saying the NTSB findings should be a "wake-up call for Rhode Island legislators," Raptakis said he plans to introduce three bills to help curb the problem of drunken driving. They would:

1) Require a license plate to be confiscated and impounded for up to 90 days if the owner of a vehicle is arrested for driving on a suspended license that was the result of an operating-under-the-influence charge or for refusing to take a chemical breath test; 2) extend what's called a "look back" period for violations of driving under the influence from five years to 10, the amount of time the NTSB recommends; and 3) increase the penalties for those convicted of driving under the influence, resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Raptakis sponsored a bill last year that would have made it a felony -- punishable by up to five years in prison and a $5,000 fine -- to drive with a license that has been suspended for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol or for refusing to take a chemical breath test. The bill cleared the Senate but died in the House Judiciary Committee.

"The fact that the House Judiciary Committee has become the graveyard of drunk-driving bills is a major concern," Raptakis said in a news release issued this afternoon. "The Rhode Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling for leadership on the issue, and it is time for House leaders to send a clear message to their constituents that they are willing to act in the best interest of Rhode Islanders by cracking down on drunk driving."

The NTSB said last week that only three states -- Rhode Island, Michigan and Montana -- are doing so little to curb drunk driving. Those states have enacted just 2 of 11 recommendations set forth by the NTSB to reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities.

Comments

Judy said:

While I applaud the intent Senator, I hold out little hope for any movement again this year from the House Judiciary Comm. They do not care about drunk driving victims.
My only other problem with your proposal is: 'a 90 day pull of license plate for a second offense of drunk driving'? Hey man, that will really teach 'em huh?
It seems to me that if you want to stop DUI's, you better start making the penalties severe. Otherwise it's like picking off a tick; annoying but not a big deal.

Link | December 3, 2008 9:39 AM
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