What CaN Be DoNe to Help Protect ChildreN? As these startling statistics sadly point out, much more aggressive tactics need to be taken with impaired drivers when children are riding in the vehicle. Possible solutions may be found in public education, research, legislation, enforcement, prosecution and judicial arenas. Specific solutions to address appropriate measures to reduce incidences of child endangerment need to be developed on local and state levels.
In developing specific solutions, MADD reviewed existing state laws that relate to DUI/DWI child endangerment. Analysis of this data revealed the following:
• Current state laws are complex and vary greatly from state to state. • A variance in the age of children when these laws apply and therefore there is a need for a uniform age. • The need for a simplification in the DUI/DWI child endangerment laws to make enforcement and prosecution easier. • There is no clear consensus on whether separate child endangerment statutes or enhanced penalties under existing DUI/DWI law is better. • A need for minimum mandatory penalties for violations of child endangerment laws.
The panel discussed in great detail the need for the criminal, civil, and family courts to gain an understanding of the severity of this crime and the need to impose significant sanctions on the offender who drives impaired with children in the vehicle, thus reducing the number of children who are injured and killed as passengers.
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