SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Lawmakers in Utah took the first step on Monday towards imposing longer prison sentences for drunk drivers who cause fatal accidents. The proposed legislation would increase the minimum sentence from one to fifteen years to five to fifteen years.
The bill, known as House Bill 273, received its first hearing at the Capitol, drawing the attention of individuals who have lost loved ones to drunk driving incidents. One of those individuals is Jeremy Mitchell, who tragically lost his son Eli to a drunk driver almost two years ago.
Mitchell expressed the emotional pain of his loss, stating, “I lost my best friend, I lost something that I can’t get back ever in my life.” As the bill aims to extend prison terms for offenders, Mitchell emphasized the importance of providing victims’ families with more time before having to face the offender’s parole, a process that often forces them to relive the tragedy.
Art Brown, President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving Utah, also advocates for the bill, having experienced the loss of a grandchild to a drunk driver. Brown stressed the need for more certainty for victims and greater accountability for offenders. By increasing the length of prison terms, the bill seeks to deter individuals from driving under the influence, sending a message that causing a fatality while drunk driving will result in serious consequences.
The proposed legislation is a response to the pain and suffering that victims and their families endure as a result of drunk driving incidents. As the bill moves forward for debate by the full House, it raises important questions about justice for victims and the consequences of driving under the influence.