House Crime Committee Continues Discussing DWIs
From Missouri Digital News: https://mdn.org
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
MDN Menu

MDN Home

Journalist's Creed

Print

MDN Help

MDN.ORG Mo. Digital News Missouri Digital News MDN.ORG: Mo. Digital News MDN.ORG: Missouri Digital News
Lobbyist Money Help  

House Crime Committee Continues Discussing DWIs

Date: February 17, 2010
By: Sami Hall
State Capitol Bureau
Links: HB 1695

Intro:  A House DWI bill stalls in committee again after members continue debate.
RunTime:  0:32
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: The House Crime Committee spent its third week talking about increased penalties for serious DWI offenders.

The proposed bill will make convicted drunk drivers wait longer to get back on the road especially if they are repeat offenders.

Democratic Representative Michael Colona from St. Louis said he disagrees with the harsher penalties.

Actuality:  COLONA2.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "I think it's a better scheme to keep them on the road, insured, legal, with an alcohol monitor or a breathalyzer."

The committee said it hopes to vote on the bill next Wednesday.

From the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall.

Intro:  The House Crime Committee couldn't agree on how long offenders should have to deal with a DWI on their record.
RunTime:  0:34
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Representatives debated how long offenders should have to wait before they can get rid of their DWI record.

Currently, people convicted of a DWI have to wait 10 years to clear their name and this proposed bill increases the wait to 15 years.

Bill sponsor Representative Bryan Stevenson, a Republican from Joplin, said he will leave it up to the committee to decide how long people should have to wait.

Actuality:  STEVEN.WAV
Run Time:  00:06
Description: "People should be able to expunge their record at some point. I would not like to see it longer than fifteen."

The debate will continue next Wednesday.

From the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall.

Intro:  The House Crime Committee couldn't agree on increased penalties for DWI offenders during the third week of hearings.
RunTime:  0:33
OutCue:  SOC

Wrap: Representatives couldn't agree on how long offenders should wait before getting rid of their record.

The proposed bill changes the wait time from 10 to 15 years.

Democratic Representative Jamilah Nasheed says offenders should be able to clear their names in less time, not more. 

Actuality:  NASHEED1.WAV
Run Time:  00:12
Description: "I think that we should go five years simply because men and women that have made mistakes in the past redeem themselves and then they go out and they knock on the doors of opportunity and the door is slammed in their face."

The debate will continue next Wednesday.

From the State Capitol, I'm Sami Hall.