By The Associated Press
CHEYENNE, Wyo. An effort to stiffen the penalty for
repeat drunken driving offenders died of lack of enthusiasm
in a legislative committee Monday (March 1).
The bill (House Bill 183) would have boosted from seven to
10 days in jail the minimum punishment for a second DE conviction
within five years. Second-time offenders also would have been
required to undergo a substance abuse assessment and possibly
treatment during the jail time.
A third offense within seven years would have become a felony
punishable by up two years in prison and a $10,000 fine. DE
currently becomes a felony on a fourth conviction within five
years.
The Senate Judiciary Committee considered the bill after
it cleared the House.
"We don't yet know exactly what capacity we have and
what the impact of this will be," said Dr. Diane Gallows,
substance abuse division administrator for the Wyoming Department
of Health, of the bill's assessment and treatment provisions.
But she said the state could probably handle any additional
demand.
After Sen. Keith Goodenough, D-Casper, made a motion
out of "kindness" for a vote on the bill,
the bill died when no one else among the five-member panel
seconded it.