Matt Blunt Fails Drunken Driver Prevention

Instead of criminalizing more behavior and allowing more intrusive police checks on law-abiding citizens in the name of prevention, Governor Blunt unfortunately (for MADD) instead increases penalties for drunken driving that actually causes ill: Blunt to sign 'Jessica's Law':

Currently, if an intoxicated driver causes the death of another person other than a passenger, he or she can be charged with a Class C felony. Under Nodler's bill, this will be moved up to a Class B felony, adding a potential eight more years to the sentence, 85 percent of which must be served before the person will be eligible for parole.

Additionally, a person charged with involuntary manslaughter while having a blood alcohol content of at least .24 can be charged with a Class A felony and possibly be given a life sentence.

This punishes those guilty of the proscribed behavior without impeding the freedom of everyone else. We at DMB2008 are glad that Matt Blunt recognizes the difference.