A local lawmaker introduced legislation this week designed to crack down on those who continue to drive after their licenses have been suspended.
At a press conference on Monday, State Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham, along with Rep. Darlene Curley, R-Scarborough, set forth the details of Tina’s Law, named for the Scarborough woman who was killed when her car was struck by a man driving after his license had been suspended for multiple infractions.
“This new bill we call Tina’s Law, in honor of Tina Turcotte, who was tragically and needlessly killed on July 29 after being hit by an 18-wheeler driven by Scott Hewitt,” Diamond said. “We’re convinced this bill is going to mandate strict consequences for those who refuse to obey Maine’s traffic laws.”
With nearly 68,000 Maine licenses currently suspended for the fifth time or more, according to the Maine Secretary of State’s Office, Maine lawmakers and law enforcement officials are determined to make the penalties more severe for those who choose to continue driving.
And with a 42 percent increase since 1996 in those drivers convicted of operating after a suspension, Diamond says that Hewitt served to expose a system that is “badly broken.”
Under the Tina’s Law proposal, suspended licenses would be confiscated by the Secretary of State immediately and held for the length of the suspension. Vehicles belong to those apprehended for continuing to drive on suspended licenses would be impounded for the duration of the suspension.
If an offender operating after suspension causes an accident that results in injury he or she will be charged with a Class C felony. If the accident results in death, the offender will be charged with a Class B felony.
Within a period of three years, on suspensions due to traffic violations, if a license is suspended three times, it will be revoked for a year; if it is suspended between four and six times, it will be revoked for six years; and if the suspensions total more than six times in the three-year period, the license will be revoked for 10 years. And in each of these cases, if the offender is found driving during those suspensions, he or she will face jail time: six months, two years, and five years respectively.
The law would also include monetary penalties for suspensions due to traffic violations: $1,000 for three suspensions; $2,000, $3,000 and $4,000 for four, five or six suspensions respectively; and $5,000 each time for more than six suspensions.
Curley acknowledged that there are some who believe these proposals may be too strict but said they plan to continue discussions regarding the details of the bill with those in the judicial system as well as public safety officials.
“Our goal is all the same – we must get these drivers off the road,” she said, “And I’m confident we can work together to overcome any differences we have about implementing this legislation.”
The bill will come before the Committee for Criminal Justice and Public Safety, chaired by Diamond, early in January’s session. Diamond believes it will have widespread support because “it’s one that strikes at the heart of everybody.”
Tina Turcotte’s husband, Scott Turcotte, and her parents, Patricia and Robert LaNigra also attended Monday’s press conference.
In an emotional speech, Patricia talked about her daughter and the system that failed her. Calling the present laws “very weak,” she observed that she would not have been up there speaking had the laws been stronger.
“We end up being the victims because laws are not strict enough to get these drivers off the road,” she said. “Nothing is more important on the road than the lives of others.”
Representative Darlene Curley, R-Scarborough, and Senator Bill Diamond, D-Windham, introduce Tinaler operated by Scott Hewitt.Send questions/comments to the editors.
