![]() ![]() Chris Quinn, a Republican from Delco, who was joined by the parents of DeRosa Eckman when the law was enacted. The bill to strengthen penalties for repeat DUI offenders was written by state Rep. Police officers in Warren County, in the northwestern part of the state, will soon begin using marijuana breathalyzer tests on drivers suspected of DUI as part of a three-month test program. The presence of THC is usually identified through metabolites in a blood test. The active ingredient in marijuana has been used without proof of impairment to penalize drivers who are registered medical marijuana patients. Some state lawmakers also have sought to amend DUI laws to protect medical marijuana users by eliminating the state's zero-tolerance policy for THC. "To be clear, this penalty enhancement is not triggered by the infliction of bodily injury or death, but for refusing a test - charged the same as other second-degree felony offenses, such as statutory sexual assault or involuntary manslaughter of a child under 12 years old," the ACLU-PA said. The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania had opposed the passage of the legislation, arguing that the change to second-degree felonies was unjustified based on the refusal to take a breath or chemical test alone. "Repeating these offenses puts others at risk and these law changes reflect the severity of these acts to make our roads safer." "This law makes significant changes to existing law that will ultimately increase the protection of all drivers by keeping repeat offenders from continuing to operate a vehicle while impaired by drugs or alcohol after being charged with a DUI," PennDOT Secretary Yassmin Gramian said. Larry Krasner seeks longer prison sentence for ex-cop convicted of manslaughter Man charged after woman, 41, found dead with severed head at Northeast Philly home.Driver gets prison in wrong-way crash that killed U.S.There also will be a sentencing enhancement in cases involving people with four or more prior DUI offenses. Exceptions will be made for violations that are required to be merged during sentencing. The new law also stipulates that a sentence imposed on a person for a DUI offense will be served consecutively - instead of concurrently - to any other sentence. ![]() Previously, people with three or more DUI offenses only would face a third-degree felony charge. People with three or more prior DUI offenses will face a second-degree felony charge with a maximum prison term of up to 10 years. It also covers DUI offenses involving controlled substances.įor people who have two prior DUI offenses, an additional DUI that meets the standards above will result in a third-degree felony charge with a maximum prison term of seven years. 16 or higher - twice the legal limit in Pennsylvania. The law will require consecutive sentencing for repeat DUI offenders who refuse a breath or chemical test, or who have a BAC of. On Monday, PennDOT spelled out how the amended Pennsylvania Vehicle Code will affect drivers. The law updates the grading and penalties attached to DUI offenses. Tom Wolf signed the resulting bill into law as Act 59 of 2022. The sentence was 18 months shorter than the one Strowhouer had been given before he appealed his case, prompting legislators to renew their efforts to enact stricter laws for repeat DUI offenders. Last November, Strowhouer was sentenced to 24 to 51 years in state prison for third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle while DUI and related offenses. He said he was on his way to Chester to buy cocaine at the time of the crash. Strowhouer, who initially fled the scene on foot, later returned and told authorities that he had attended his mother's funeral that day and had been drinking. 08, authorities found that Strowhouer had cocaine, Valium and marijuana in his system at the time of the crash. In addition to driving with a blood alcohol content more than twice the legal limit of. 16, 2019 in Upper Chichester, took effect Monday.ĭavid Strowhouer, who had been convicted of five previous DUIs, crossed over the yellow lines while driving his truck along the 3300 block of Market Street and crashed into a car driven by Eckman's husband, who survived the impact. People with multiple convictions for driving under the influence now will face more stringent penalties in Pennsylvania, including tougher sentencing guidelines and longer prison terms.ĭeana's Law, which honors Deana DeRosa Eckman, a 45-year-old Delaware County woman who was killed by a drunk driver on Feb. ![]()
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