SEATTLE -- While legislators in Olympia haggled over ways to close the budget shortfall, they agreed on at least one thing, unanimously passing a bill cracking down on people driving under the influence. "You can't always stop people from being, becoming impaired, but this is a way to stop them from getting behind the wheel and driving," said Amy Freedheim of the King County Prosecutor's Office.
The legislation expanded DUI laws to include huffing, the act of inhaling chemicals to get high. It would also make it tougher to fool an ignition Breathalyzer.
The new law could force offenders to pay for cameras that prove they're the ones taking the test instead of a sober friend or family member.
"The fixes the Legislature is doing strengthen our impaired driving laws, making our streets safer," Freedheim said.
Advocates for stronger DUI laws applaud the bill.
Fifteen-year-old Kelsey Parret was killed in 2010 while walking on the shoulder of a road in Pierce County. Court documents say the driver appeared drunk. The suspect pleaded guilty to vehicular homicide, and was sentenced to four years in prison.
"Your child is taken away forever, and he'll go to jail for two years. Doesn't seem fair," said Amy Glassburn, the victim's mother.
Parents and legislators hope these new laws will give him and other offenders pause before possibly re-offending.
"I'm glad that they're working on it, and that they're working so hard," said Glassburn.
Kelsey's parents think tougher sentencing guidelines are the next step to prevent DUIs, but say this new bill is driving home the point: drunk driving won't be taken lightly.
The new legislation has been delivered to the governor's office. The bill's supporters say she is expected to sign it.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Hines Ward reached plea deal on DUI charge...
(Reuters) - U.S. prosecutors on Wednesday dropped a drunken driving charge against Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Hines Ward, who instead pleaded guilty to reckless driving and was sentenced to probation.
A Georgia judge ordered the National Football League star to serve 12 months of probation and perform 80 hours of community service, said Emily Gest, spokeswoman for the DeKalb County solicitor-general.
Ward, a 35-year-old, two-time Super Bowl champion, was arrested on charges of driving under the influence of alcohol in the early morning hours of July 9. In a statement released at the time, he denied being impaired.
Prosecutors dropped the drunken driving charge in exchange for Ward's plea, Gest said. He also pleaded no contest to a charge of failing to maintain his lane, commonly known as swerving, according to a statement by the solicitor.
Ward was fined $2,000. He will have to undergo an evaluation for alcohol abuse and will be required to undergo any treatment recommended, the statement said.
He will be allowed to check in with his probation officer by phone or email, which is standard practice for defendants who live out of state.
Ward, a Georgia native, was drafted in 1998. He has been selected for the Pro Bowl four times and is a former Super Bowl Most Valuable Player. Ward is the all-time leader in career catches for the Steelers.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Friday, February 3, 2012
Guilty Plea in Kirkland DUI arrest...
Man pleads guilty to fatal Kirkland DUI crash
A Snohomish man charged in the fatal alcohol-related crash in Kirkland last summer that killed Steven Lacey, a father and Google employee, has pleaded guilty.
Patrick Rexroat pleaded guilty today to vehicular homicide and reckless driving, according to King County prosecutors. He faces up to four years in prison when sentenced on March 9; prosecutors said they will recommend the high end of the sentencing range.
After slamming his SUV into Lacey’s car on July 24, Rexroat got out of his vehicle and “pounded on his chest like a gorilla,” according to a witness to the fatal crash.
In charging Rexroat, Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Miller cited Rexroat’s “flagrant disregard for the value of human life, coupled with clear indications of impairment” as reasons why he should be booked again into jail.
A State Patrol lab test found that Rexroat had a blood-alcohol level of 0.29 percent, or more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent, after the crash, authorities said. An initial test indicated that the level was four times the legal limit.
Troopers said Rexroat may have been chasing another car southbound on I-405 in a possible case of road rage when his SUV careened off an exit ramp at Northeast 85th Street and he lost control, crossing the center line of Northeast 85th and colliding with the BMW driven by Lacey.
Witness Patricia Kaiser said in an interview with The Times after the crash that she was just feet from the two cars when she saw Rexroat’s SUV fly around a corner and slam into Lacey’s BMW. The two cars briefly went airborne.
“I ran over to the BMW first because it was completely totaled,” Kaiser said. “I took [the driver's] pulse, and he was dead.”
Minutes later, Rexroat climbed from his vehicle and started wandering around, picking up parts of his SUV from the ground, she said.
“Eventually he came toward me. I told him don’t come toward me,” Kaiser said. “He just started pounding his chest like a gorilla. I was so upset. I knew the minute he got out of the car he was drunk. You could tell.”
The accident and others like it have led to efforts to increase penalties for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
Patrick Rexroat outside the King County Jail Court Room on July 27, 2011 (Jim Bates / THE SEATTLE TIMES).
Patrick Rexroat pleaded guilty today to vehicular homicide and reckless driving, according to King County prosecutors. He faces up to four years in prison when sentenced on March 9; prosecutors said they will recommend the high end of the sentencing range.
After slamming his SUV into Lacey’s car on July 24, Rexroat got out of his vehicle and “pounded on his chest like a gorilla,” according to a witness to the fatal crash.
In charging Rexroat, Deputy Prosecutor Jennifer Miller cited Rexroat’s “flagrant disregard for the value of human life, coupled with clear indications of impairment” as reasons why he should be booked again into jail.
A State Patrol lab test found that Rexroat had a blood-alcohol level of 0.29 percent, or more than three times the legal limit of 0.08 percent, after the crash, authorities said. An initial test indicated that the level was four times the legal limit.
Troopers said Rexroat may have been chasing another car southbound on I-405 in a possible case of road rage when his SUV careened off an exit ramp at Northeast 85th Street and he lost control, crossing the center line of Northeast 85th and colliding with the BMW driven by Lacey.
Witness Patricia Kaiser said in an interview with The Times after the crash that she was just feet from the two cars when she saw Rexroat’s SUV fly around a corner and slam into Lacey’s BMW. The two cars briefly went airborne.
“I ran over to the BMW first because it was completely totaled,” Kaiser said. “I took [the driver's] pulse, and he was dead.”
Minutes later, Rexroat climbed from his vehicle and started wandering around, picking up parts of his SUV from the ground, she said.
“Eventually he came toward me. I told him don’t come toward me,” Kaiser said. “He just started pounding his chest like a gorilla. I was so upset. I knew the minute he got out of the car he was drunk. You could tell.”
The accident and others like it have led to efforts to increase penalties for vehicular homicide and vehicular assault.
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