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Senate panel debates raising penalty for intoxicated drivers who cause injury; bill deferred
Summary
Lawmakers and criminal justice officials sparred over a proposal to raise negligent injury caused by intoxicated drivers to a class C felony; public defender urged narrower language and clarity about "under the influence," prosecutors urged stronger penalties for drivers who cause harm. The committee deferred SB 280 for further consideration.
Senate Committee on Judiciary members heard competing testimony Feb. 6 on SB 280, which would amend negligent-injury statutes to treat injuries negligently inflicted by intoxicated drivers as a class C felony.
The bill drew opposition from the Office of the Public Defender. William Bento of the public defender's office told the committee, "we do oppose the bill," and warned that elevating many negligent-injury cases to a class C felony could be “a little too harsh.” He suggested amending HRS 707-706 (negligent injury in the second degree) rather than creating a new first-degree offense and urged the committee to define what it means to be "under the influence," because "1 drink,…
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