The bill seeks to amend various sections of the General Laws related to motor vehicle offenses, particularly focusing on increasing penalties for drivers who leave the scene of an accident and for those driving under the influence (DUI) resulting in injury or death. It proposes to raise the maximum imprisonment for leaving the scene of an accident resulting in serious bodily injury from 10 to 15 years and for those resulting in death from 2 to 5 years, with a maximum of 30 years. The bill also increases the license revocation period for these offenses, with a minimum of two years for serious injury and five years for death, and includes the possibility of permanent revocation.

For DUI offenses resulting in death, the bill introduces a new section, 31-27-2.2, increasing the minimum imprisonment to not less than five years and the maximum to thirty years, with a fine between $5,000 and $10,000, and a minimum license revocation of five years up to permanent revocation. For DUI offenses resulting in serious bodily injury, the maximum imprisonment is increased to fifteen years, with a fine between $1,000 and $5,000, and a license revocation period of two to ten years. Both sections require satisfactory evidence of reform and financial responsibility for license reinstatement and may mandate alcohol or drug treatment. The bill removes language regarding second or subsequent violations within a five-year period, indicating a standardized approach to penalties. The act will take effect upon passage.

Statutes affected:
7630: 31-26-1