Thursday, January 17, 2008
Pikeville State Senator's Drug- DUI Bill Passes Senate Committee
FRANKFORT - The Senate Judiciary Committee today approved Senator Ray Jones' bill that strengthens Kentucky's DUI laws.
Jones continues his fight to curb the rising drug problem in Eastern Kentucky into a second legislative session.
Senate Bill 71 would establish a per se DUI offense for driving with a detectable level of an illegal substance or a controlled substance for which the person does not have a valid prescription. However, if the person has a valid prescription and has complied with the dosage and any drug-related restrictions, the proposed amendment would not apply.
"The number of arrests for driving under the influence of a controlled substance are rapidly increasing, and may soon surpass alcohol-related DUIs," said Jones, who filed the same bill (Senate Bill 67) during the 2007 legislative session. Senate Bill 67 passed the Senate, but failed to pass the House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 71 would also reduce the alcohol concentration from 0.18 to 0.15 for establishing an aggravating circumstance which allows for imposition of increased penalties for driving under the influence. This provision is needed to prevent Kentucky from losing federal highway funds.
According to the National Transportation Safety Administration, drugs other than alcohol are involved in nearly one out of every five motor vehicle driver deaths. Alcohol is involved in more than one out of every three.
"These statistics cannot be ignored. This problem is not just a Kentucky problem, it's a national problem as well," Jones said. "We need to make sure our law enforcement officers have every tool available to protect the citizens of Kentucky from drugged drivers."
Jones said that Senate Bill 71 will close the loophole which allows drugged drivers to avoid conviction. Under current law, there is a per se DUI offense for driving with a blood alcohol level greater than .08, but there is no per se or quantitative standards for impairment levels for a controlled substance.
Jones is optimistic that the bill will pass during the 2008 legislative session. "I look for this bill to pass this session since Speaker of the House Jody Richards filed similar legislation after two friends were killed in a traffic collision where there were questions raised as to whether the at fault driver was under the influence of an illegal or controlled substance."
Jones was commended by Chairman Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, for having the first bill of the 2008 legislative session passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Kentucky County Attorneys Association, Inc. (KCAA) has endorsed Jones' drugged driving bill again this year. Last year, KCAA awarded Jones the first-ever Legislative Excellence Award.
Senate Bill 71 now moves to the State Senate Floor for a vote. If Senate Bill 71 gains approval in the State Senate, it will move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Jones represents the 31st district which includes Pike, Martin and Johnson counties.
-END-
Jones continues his fight to curb the rising drug problem in Eastern Kentucky into a second legislative session.
Senate Bill 71 would establish a per se DUI offense for driving with a detectable level of an illegal substance or a controlled substance for which the person does not have a valid prescription. However, if the person has a valid prescription and has complied with the dosage and any drug-related restrictions, the proposed amendment would not apply.
"The number of arrests for driving under the influence of a controlled substance are rapidly increasing, and may soon surpass alcohol-related DUIs," said Jones, who filed the same bill (Senate Bill 67) during the 2007 legislative session. Senate Bill 67 passed the Senate, but failed to pass the House of Representatives.
Senate Bill 71 would also reduce the alcohol concentration from 0.18 to 0.15 for establishing an aggravating circumstance which allows for imposition of increased penalties for driving under the influence. This provision is needed to prevent Kentucky from losing federal highway funds.
According to the National Transportation Safety Administration, drugs other than alcohol are involved in nearly one out of every five motor vehicle driver deaths. Alcohol is involved in more than one out of every three.
"These statistics cannot be ignored. This problem is not just a Kentucky problem, it's a national problem as well," Jones said. "We need to make sure our law enforcement officers have every tool available to protect the citizens of Kentucky from drugged drivers."
Jones said that Senate Bill 71 will close the loophole which allows drugged drivers to avoid conviction. Under current law, there is a per se DUI offense for driving with a blood alcohol level greater than .08, but there is no per se or quantitative standards for impairment levels for a controlled substance.
Jones is optimistic that the bill will pass during the 2008 legislative session. "I look for this bill to pass this session since Speaker of the House Jody Richards filed similar legislation after two friends were killed in a traffic collision where there were questions raised as to whether the at fault driver was under the influence of an illegal or controlled substance."
Jones was commended by Chairman Robert Stivers, R-Manchester, for having the first bill of the 2008 legislative session passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The Kentucky County Attorneys Association, Inc. (KCAA) has endorsed Jones' drugged driving bill again this year. Last year, KCAA awarded Jones the first-ever Legislative Excellence Award.
Senate Bill 71 now moves to the State Senate Floor for a vote. If Senate Bill 71 gains approval in the State Senate, it will move to the House of Representatives for further consideration.
Jones represents the 31st district which includes Pike, Martin and Johnson counties.
-END-
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 5:42 PM 
