Rich and Roseann are also happy with the way Deanna’s Law has been crafted and the speed with which it has been moving through the Legislature. The bill overwhelmingly passed in the Senate 43-6 last month and has been referred to the House Transportation Committee.
The version passed by the Senate would require anyone convicted of a third DUI to serve a sentence consecutive to any other sentence imposed by the court and increase jail time for repeat offenders. Current sentencing guidelines for fourth and fifth offenses are 3 1/2 to 7 years, but the bill would raise those to 5 to 10 years and 10 to 20 years, respectively.
It also imposes preventative measures by mandating statewide use of continuous alcohol monitoring devices, also known as CAM (or “SCRAM” for Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitor). These devices are affixed to offenders in the same manner as house arrest devices but sample and test the wearer’s perspiration for the presence of alcohol.