Sens. Raptakis, Sosnowski and Rep. Serpa hold press conference on drunk driving legislation

On the eve of Memorial Day weekend, several of the bills will be heard by the Senate Judiciary Committee after Thursday’s Senate session

 

            STATE HOUSE – Sens. Leonidas P. Raptakis and V. Susan Sosnowski and Rep. Patricia A. Serpa held a press conference at the State House to call attention to several bills that strengthen the penalties for drunk, impaired and reckless driving offenses.

           “Drunk drivers, especially repeat offenders and especially those whose irresponsible actions cause harm to others, should not be on the road, period,” said Senator Raptakis (D-Dist. 33, Coventry, West Greenwich). “I don’t care how remorseful they seem when they appear before a judge. The punishment for this type of reckless disregard for the welfare of others needs to be much tougher. Since drunk driving deaths and injuries caused by repeat offenders have not decreased in our state, it’s obvious that the status quo is not protecting Rhode Islanders and that these bills addressing the problem need to be passed.  Until they are, drunks are going to keep getting behind the wheel and causing mayhem and tragedy on our roads.”

            The legislators were joined by Sens. Ana B. Quezada (D-Dist. 2, Providence), Sandra Cano (D-Dist. 8, Pawtucket), John P. Burke (D-Dist. 9, West Warwick) and David P. Tikoian (D-Dist. 22, Smithfield, Lincoln, North Providence); Rep. Thomas E. Noret (D-Dist. 25, Coventry, West Warwick); Lt. Governor Sabina Matos; Adi Goldstein, Deputy Attorney General; Director Peter Alviti, Jr., RI Department of Transportation; Chief Kevin Lynch, Bristol Police Department; Gabe Abbate, RI Highway Safety Chief; Wesley Pennington, Program Director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving RI; Lt. Colonel Robert Creamer, RI State Police; Diana Gugliotta, Director Public Government Affairs, Public Affairs, AAA Northeast; as well as Kathy Andreozzi, Founder of Tori Lynn Andreozzi Foundation, and Kristine Bouthiller, representing the Dennison Family of West Warwick.

            Later in the evening, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear testimony on the following bills highlighted at the press conference:

·      2023-S 0118, introduced by Senator Raptakis would increase the sentences, fines or both         for driving so as to endanger, resulting in death or personal injury.  Representative Serpa         (D-Dist. 27, West Warwick, Coventry) has introduced the bill (2023-H 5213) in the House.

·      2023-S 0119, introduced by Senator Raptakis, would extend the lookback period for repeat         offenses involving driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and for repeat offenses         related to failure or refusal to submit to chemical tests from five years to ten years.          Representative Serpa introduced the bill (2023-H 5216) in the House.

·      2023-S 0332, introduced by Senator Raptakis, would increase the penalty for anyone         found guilty of eluding a police vehicle in high speed pursuit to a felony punishable by up         to five years imprisonment, a fine of between five thousand and ten thousand dollars, a         loss of license from one to two years and a possible forfeiture their motor vehicle.

·      2023-S 0737, sponsored by Senator Sosnowski (D-Dist. 37, South Kingstown), would         provide for a single, increased range of penalties for all driving offenses which result in         serious bodily injury or death.  Representative Serpa introduced the bill (2023-H 6028) in         the House.

·      2023-S 0899, sponsored by Senator Sosnowski, would clarify and separate the different         criminal penalties for first and subsequent convictions for reckless driving.  Representative         Noret introduced the bill (2023-H 5890) in the House.

·      2023-S 0331, sponsored by Senator Burke, would increase the penalties for a first offense         of leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death to a minimum five years in         incarceration, a minimum of $10,000 and a minimum license revocation of five years.          Representative Noret introduced the bill (2023-H 5699) in the House.

 

 

 

President Trump says the tariffs imposed on other countries are having the desired effect, and he's now open to negotiations. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said his initial tariff plan is over, and he's watching it settle in. He said every country has called, asking to cut a trade deal with the U.S. to avoid the tariffs.        Stocks are closing sharply lower one day after President Trump announced sweeping global tariffs. The S&P 500 had its worse day since 2020 as the White House announced a baseline tariff rate of ten-percent against most countries yesterday that will go into effect on Saturday. At the closing bell, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell by 16-79 to 40-545. The S&P 500 lost 274 points to 53-96. The Nasdaq lost 10-50 points to 16-550.        A multi-day severe weather event is unfolding for more than 55-million people. It comes after at least seven people were killed in the South Central U.S. after storms that included several tornadoes hit the region yesterday. Tonight, there is still a tornado threat for the same areas, but forecasters warn there could also be potentially catastrophic flooding in the Mid-South and Midwest.        The Federal Aviation Administration is offering more support to air traffic controllers at Reagan National Airport. The Critical Incident Stress Management team will be meeting with airport personnel sometime early this month. The FAA is also reviewing the arrival rate at the airport and will conduct regular wellness checks.        The Senate has confirmed Dr. Mehmet Oz as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. The television personality was confirmed on a party-line vote of 53-45. Oz now assumes a role that provides health insurance to roughly 160 million Americans.        Steven Spielberg and George Lucas top the latest Forbes list of celebrity billionaires. The latest Forbes ranking of the world's wealthiest people includes 18 celebrities, with film director Steven Spielberg topping the list at five-point-three-billion dollars. Star Wars creator George Lucas is in second place with a net worth of five-point-one-billion dollars.