FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jimmy DeBoy Bill moves to House
Alting fights for tougher penalties aimed at impaired driver
(STATEHOUSE) – The Jimmy DeBoy Bill, named after a 9-year-old Lafayette boy who was struck by an impaired driver while riding his bike on the sidewalk, will move to the House of Representatives. Senate Bill 90 passed out the Senate today by a 33-15 vote. The bill authored by Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) could stiffen penalties for intoxicated drivers who cause crashes that kill or seriously injure another person.
Alting’s bill would make OWI’s causing death a Class A felony and OWI’s causing serious bodily injury a Class B felony.
According to Alting, Senate Bill 90 also adds the offense of Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury and Death to the crimes of violence list and addresses license suspensions.
“By making an OWI a crime of violence, penalties could be increased,” Alting said. “In addition, this bill would give judges the opportunity to impose consecutive penalties for license suspensions. Tougher penalties could make people think twice about getting behind the wheel when they are impaired.”
A letter from Patrick Harrington, Tippecanoe County Prosecuting Attorney, provided this scenario:
“. . . if someone were to steal your checkbook and forge your name for any dollar amount, State law allows a Class C Felony to be charged. The punishment for a C Felony is two to eight years. I hope you would agree that Operating While Intoxicated Causing Serious Bodily Injury should have at least the same punishment as forgery.”
“People are demanding that the punishment fit the crime,” Alting said. “I have heard too many tragic stories of families and friends who have lost loved ones to impaired drivers and these drivers are only sentenced to a few years in prison. The punishment needs to fit the crime,” Alting said.
Sen. Alting represents Senate District 22, which includes a portion of Tippecanoe County.
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