DUI for Bus Driver Inspires New Legislation

 Posted on December 00,0000 in Uncategorized

Richard Madison, 54, of Palos Hills “was pulled over by authorities after driving [under the influence] nearly two dozen students to a prom site for Oswego East High School,” according to the Chicago Tribune. The incident has led to a proposal in the Illinois state legislature to toughen punishment for DUI. “Under the measure,” according to the Tribune, “drivers could be charged with a felony for driving under the influence and carrying one or more passengers of any age while on duty as a driver.” As it currently stands, the state law only cites bus drivers with an aggravated DUI if the passengers are under 18.

According to the Tribune, aggravated DUI is a Class 4 felony, “punishable by up to three years in prison.” Any random drunk driving charge can carry a sentence of up to a year in jail, but House Republican leader Tom Cross told the Tribune that that punishment wasn’t strong enough for someone who was hired to safely deliver children, and who was putting those kids at risk.

This area of Chicago is no stranger to teen tragedy—in 2007, an alcohol-related car crash killed five teenagers who would have graduated form the same high school these prom-goers attend. The introduction of Cross’s measure, according to the Tribune, “came on the same day the National Transportation Safety Board in Washington called on authorities to reduce the legal limit to 0.05 percent from the 0.08 standard used in all 50 states.” 

School bus drivers driving under the influence is sadly common. In November of last year, an elementary school bus driver was arrested and charged with DUI after being stopped for erratic driving, according to a different article in the Tribune. The only difference is that the driver, Kenny Sellers, automatically received a citation for aggravated DUI because he was driving children. The new law would ensure that any hired bus driver was held accountable, regardless if there were children in the vehicle.

If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident caused by a drunk driver, you may be eligible for compensation. Don’t go through it alone. Contact a dedicated Chicago-area personal injury attorney today.

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