Senate panel advances bill to increase penalties for underage drunken driving

RICHMOND

A bill that would increase the penalties for underage drinking and driving advanced out of the Senate Courts of Justice Committee on Thursday evening in a 14-1 vote, about one week after the measure was initially killed.

Del. Bill Janis, R-Henrico, said the bill is intended make uniform the penalties for underage alcohol possession and underage drunken driving.

The bill, HB719, would make underage drinking and driving a Class 1 misdemeanor, which carries a penalty of up to

12 months in jail and a maximum fine of $2,500.

Under Janis' bill, motorists convicted of underage drunken driving would be assessed a maximum fine of $500, or at least 50 hours of community service, and the loss of driving privileges for one year. The current penalty for such a conviction is loss of license for six months and a maximum fine of $500.

Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, expressed concern that the bill would result in more teenagers being sent to jail, which could cost the state federal funding.

According to the state Department of Criminal Justice Services, Virginia's most recent annual allocation was

$1.4 million in federal grants connected to the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Prevention Act, whose goal is to improve juvenile justice.

Janis amended his bill to include a 2010 sunset date, allowing time to conduct a review to see whether the stiffer penalties would cost the state any federal funding.

Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com