
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, February 8, 1994                   TAG: 9402080252
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Thomas G. Baker Jr.
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

A GOOD YEAR FOR DUI LEGISLATION

Since I have been in the General Assembly, this year presents the most DUI legislation I have seen and, likely, the best possibility for passage of some meaningful legislation to keep suspended and drunken drivers off the highway.

Among the measures filed are the .08 legislation which would lower the legal limit on blood alcohol from .10; Administrative Revocation which, if passed, will result in the loss of license for seven days immediately upon arrest for DUI; and also a bill making it a crime to injure or disable another with an automobile if operating the automobile under the influence.

A new measure introduced this year would require a 30 to 90 day impoundment or immobilization of the vehicle of a person driving without a license if that person's license had been previously revoked for driving drunk. This measure is designed to deny use of a vehicle to those individuals who continue to drive after having been suspended. Also, to address this problem, a bill has been filed that will make it a crime to knowingly let another individual drive your car if you know that person has a suspended license or has been declared an habitual offender. A bill is also before us which will provide for a mandatory one-year term for alcohol-related vehicular manslaughter.

The Courts Committee considered most of these bills over the past weekend. Earlier this week, I co-sponsored budget amendments to send more state money to areas like ours that are experiencing decreased school enrollment. This legislation would provide $3 million to offset the loss of state money for schools having fewer students. I also submitted an amendment to supplement state funds to local schools for the maintenance portion of the funding formula. If both amendments were to be adopted, approximately $355,000 would be distributed among schools in Pulaski, Radford and Giles.

In bills before the House last week, I voted against two measures to allow private individuals to open up businesses in shopping malls solely to sell state lottery tickets. It was defeated on the House floor. Additionally, a bill to allow disabled individuals to hunt from a stationary vehicle received House approval on Monday. I support the bill and it will now go on to the Senate.

This week, I anticipate action on the parental notification bills as well as action on a bill to allow tractor trailer trucks to travel 65 mph on interstate highways.

On Friday, the House Education Committee, of which I also am a member, reported the school prayer bill that I sponsored with Del. Clinton Miller. R-Woodstock, by a vote of 13 to 7. This measure should now be taken up by the entire House of Delegates next week.

I can be reached at 804-786-6605 and by mail at Room 446, General Assembly Building, Capitol Square, P.O. Box 406, Richmond, Va., 23203, or through my Dublin office at 674-4081 and P.O. Box 1847, Dublin, Va., 24084. I look forward to reporting to you again next week.

Delegate Tommy Baker

Thomas G. Baker Jr., of Radford represents Radford, Pulaski County and the balance of Giles County, including Pearisburg.

Keywords:
GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1994

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