Deanna’s Law Bill Passes PA Senate, Would Increase Penalties for Repeat DUI Offenders

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Pa. Capitol Building. Image via Pennsylvania Commonwealth Facebook page.

A bill inspired by the death of a 45-year-old Delaware County drunken driving victim that adds serious penalties for drivers with multiple DUI convictions has overwhelmingly passed the state Senate, reported the Associated Press.

Deana Eckman was killed last February by a five-time drunk driver whose pickup truck crossed the double yellow line and hit the car that she and her husband, Chris Eckman, were driving.

The driver pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence and other charges. He was sentenced to 25½ to 51 years in prison.

He was on probation for one of his DUI convictions at the time of the crash.

The bill, known as Deanna’s Law, passed by the Senate 43-6, would end what the bill’s sponsor called Pennsylvania’s “revolving door system” for the most serious drunken drivers.

It now moves to the House of Representatives.

Under the bill, penalties would rise for those with multiple DUI convictions and have higher blood alcohol content levels.

The bill would create a sobriety monitoring program and make it a condition of bail for at least three months for someone who is charged with their second DUI offense.

Read more about the repeat DUI Senate bill here.

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