STATEHOUSE (Jan 4, 2010) - Legislation crafted by State Sen. Allen Paul (R-Richmond) to strengthen penalties against drunken drivers will be considered Tuesday by a key Senate committee.

Paul said the Senate Committee on Corrections, Criminal and Civil Matters will consider Senate Bill 71 - a bill to stiffen the penalties against drunken drivers who cause the termination of a woman's pregnancy - during a hearing scheduled for 9 a.m. in Room 130 of the Statehouse.

Currently, Indiana law states a drunken driver who fatally injures another person can be charged with a Class C felony - a crime punishable by up to 8 years. The charge becomes a Class B felony if the driver has prior convictions and could face six to 20 years. Senate Bill 71 would amend the law to include termination of pregnancy.

Under Paul's bill, termination of pregnancy would also be added to the current reckless homicide law - a Class C felony - but would not apply to an abortion as medically performed in compliance with Indiana law.

Paul said Wayne County resident Danielle Brookshire's 2007 car accident caused by a drunken driver is the motivation behind the bill. "Danielle's was in the final trimester of her pregnancy when she was struck by a drunken driver," Paul said. "While the driver walked away with only a traffic ticket, Danielle tragically lost her unborn child and sadly is unable to become pregnant again."

Paul said Indiana would join several other states - including Ohio - where penalties against drunken drivers increase if they cause crashes resulting in the termination of pregnancies.

Visit http://asx.ihets.org/senate130/live.asx to watch the live webcast of Tuesday morning's committee meeting. 

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Senator Paul represents Senate District 27, which includes Jay, Randolph and Wayne counties.

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