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Sponsor seeks tougher DUI penalties and new felony for poly-drug driving; advocates and defense warn of consequences
Summary
Representative Steve Kelly presented two DUI bills: HB 541 would create a felony for driving while combining alcohol and illicit drugs; HB 542 would increase jail time and make later DUI offenses felonies. Victims' families and law enforcement supported the changes; public defenders warned of fiscal and implementation impacts and urged narrowing the language.
Representative Steve Kelly (House District 9) told the House Judiciary Committee that troopers reported rising incidents of drivers impaired by combinations of alcohol and illicit drugs, prompting two bills. House Bill 541 would create a felony offense for driving while under the combined influence of alcohol and illicit drugs to route repeat offenders into Department of Corrections treatment programs; HB 542 would increase penalties for basic DUI, raising first-offense custody to days,…
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