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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2021 - 2022
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | December 7, 2020 11:19 AM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator John P. Blake |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | “Shane’s Law” - Immediate License Suspension for Serious D.U.I. Offenses |
| I will be reintroducing legislation intended to reduce the number of certain D.U.I. offenders on the road while they await the resolution of a trial. This bill, which was unanimously reported out of the Senate Transportation Committee in 2018, would provide for immediate license suspension in circumstances where a driver kills or seriously injures someone while driving under the influence. Under my bill, any individual operating a vehicle, while under the influence, would be deemed to have given consent to have their license suspended, if he or she is involved in an incident related to a homicide by vehicle or aggravated assault by vehicle. The suspension would not occur until after a criminal complaint is filed and a preliminary arraignment related to the offenses has occurred. This legislation was introduced in memory of a young constituent, Shane Rivenburgh, who was killed by a motorist driving under the influence in the spring of 2016. While the measures suggested above would not have prevented Shane’s tragic death, it could save the lives of others in situations where the offender has dependency or addiction issues and continues to operate a vehicle. This bill was the selfless request of Shane’s grieving mother, terrified at the thought of such an offender remaining behind the wheel in the often-protracted period leading up to a trial. This bill will again carry Shane’s high school baseball number “16,” as he was a talented pitcher; beloved son; and friend to many. Prior co-sponsors included Senators Costa, Hughes, Santarsiero, Fontana, Kim Ward, Haywood, Schwank, Brewster, Tartaglione and A. Williams. |