Licking Today

The House Criminal Justice Committee has passed House Bill 37, legislation that proposes to increase the penalty for Aggravated Vehicular Homicides committed by drunk drivers. The announcement was made by bill sponsors, State Reps. Mark Johnson (R-Chillicothe) and Kevin Miller (R-Newark).

The proposed legislation is designed to create a suitable penalty for those who commit the offense of aggravated vehicular homicide and have also previously been convicted of an OVI-related offense. Specifically, House Bill 37 aims to address repeat offenders whose actions have resulted in the death of another person.

"The main point of this bill is the one-strike policy it enacts after someone has pleaded guilty to one OVI offense in the past twenty years," said Johnson. "If anyone does have at least one OVI offense on their record and they go on to kill someone while driving drunk, the court will have the ability to sentence them to prison for up to twenty years."

According to the bill, if an offender has prior vehicular homicide, vehicular assault, or involuntary manslaughter resulting from an OVI offense, the court will be able to apply the same sentence. Additionally, the proposed legislation seeks to increase fines for all aggravated vehicular homicides resulting from an OVI to $25,000 and raise fines for all other OVI offenses.

The bill also proposes mandatory use of ignition interlocks for all second offense OVI offenders and those with prior alcohol-related offenses.

"As a former state trooper, I know that nearly 30% of all OVI arrests are repeat offenders," said Miller. "These offenders have repeatedly decided to put the lives of others at risk all for the sake of their own convenience. The consequences of an OVI conviction were clearly not enough to change their mind and deter their behavior. House Bill 37 sends a strong message to these individuals."

House Bill 37 now awaits a vote on the House Floor.