44.2 F
Chicago
Monday, March 27, 2023
HomeIllinois NewsNew law sets up tougher drunk driver penalties for property damage

New law sets up tougher drunk driver penalties for property damage

Date:

spot_img

Screen Shot 2017-03-13 at 2.49.24 PM
WSIL ABC 3 photo of Mt Vernon fire when drunk driver ran into apartment complex

SPRINGFIELD – Getting drunk, getting behind the wheel and wrecklessly damaging property could end in even tougher penalties if a bill sponsored by State Rep. Terri Bryant (R-Murphysboro) becomes law.

Last week HB 2606, which deals with enhanced penalties for impaired drivers, passed through the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee and is headed for a floor vote.

The need for this legislation appeared when 31 people were displaced from their apartment complex when a drunk driver ran into their building in Mt. Vernon last year.

“This legislation was brought to me by a county prosecutor who noticed a flaw in the law. Many Mt. Vernon residents were displaced and lost much of what they owned when a drunk driver caused major damage to their apartment complex,” Bryant said. “HB 2606 would allow prosecutors to charge offenders with aggravated DUI when major damage to property occurs as a result of a collision between a vehicle and a business or residential property.”

Bryant says the minimum threshold for damages under the bill would be $5,000.

Subscribe

- Never miss a story with notifications

- Gain full access to our premium content

- Browse free from up to 5 devices at once

Latest stories