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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | February 11, 2021 04:05 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Christopher B. Quinn |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Deana's Law (Former SB773) |
| In the near future, I plan to reintroduce legislation that would further protect our families from the heinous actions of repeat DUI offenders. On February 16, 2019, the life of Deana Eckman, a resident of Brookhaven Borough in Delaware County, was tragically cut short while she and her husband, Chris, were driving home from a family event. On that evening, Deana and Chris were struck by a highly intoxicated driver in a violent crash. The driver who killed Deana and caused injuries to Chris had previously been convicted of five DUI offenses. After this horrific accident and death, this individual was charged with his sixth DUI. Deana Eckman’s death has brought unbearable pain to her husband, parents, siblings, other family members, and friends, nearly one thousand of whom attended her memorial service. Hoping to save lives and spare other families the heartbreak they are suffering, her family is determined to change laws that have permitted a revolving door system for the worst of the worst repeat DUI offenders in Pennsylvania. Specifically, my legislation will substantially increase penalties for those who have multiple DUI convictions and target offenders who repeatedly drive drunk with high Blood Alcohol Content levels in their systems. It will also require consecutive sentences for a fourth or subsequent DUI conviction. Had Deana’s killer would have been in prison at the time of the crash that claimed her life had he been sentence to consecutive jail terms for his fourth and fifth DUIs. We cannot allow the worst of the worst repeat DUI offenders to endanger Pennsylvania motorists. Please join the effort to help further protect our families and communities from these offenders in Deana Eckman’s memory by cosponsoring this important legislation. |
Introduced as HB773