Legislation cracking down
on teenage drunken drivers was
resurrected in the Virginia Senate
this past week.
House Bill 719, sponsored by
Delegate William R. Janis, R-Glen
Allen, would increase the penalties
for convicted, underage drunken drivers. The
penalties would include making the offense a Class
1 misdemeanor, which could result in a yearlong
suspension of a driver’s license.
“As the song goes, this bill was clearly lovelier the
second time around,” stated Kurt Gregory Erickson, a
registered Virginia lobbyist and president of the Washington
Regional Alcohol Program, in a press release.
WRAP is a Virginia-based, public-private partnership
created to prevent drunken driving and underage
drinking.
Janis’ bill operates under a zero-tolerance regulation.
Even if a driver is not technically under the
influence with a .02 percent blood-alcohol level, he
or she still will be subject to the penalties.
The Senate Courts of Justice Committee voted
14-1 to advance the bill after killing it one week
earlier by a 4-7 vote and then bringing it back for
consideration.
Under current Virginia law, underage drunken
drivers that are convicted lose their license for six
months and are fined up to $500.