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

DATE: THURSDAY, April 7, 1994                   TAG: 9404070332
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RICHMOND                                LENGTH: Medium

DRUNKEN-DRIVING BILL AMONG 8 ANTI-CRIME MEASURES SIGNED

``Today, we take an important first step toward making Virginians safe again,'' Allen said at a ceremony on the south portico of the State Capitol. The anti-crime measures adopted last month by the General Assembly include:

A "three-strikes-and-you're out'' bill sponsored by Sen. Kenneth Stolle, R-Virginia Beach, and Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Roanoke County, requiring mandatory life sentences for defendants convicted of three violent offenses.

A bill allowing juries to learn about a felony defendant's criminal history before sentencing.

A bill lowering from 15 to 14 the age at which a juvenile can be tried as an adult for certain violent felonies, sponsored by Del. Jerrauld Jones, D-Norfolk, and Sen. Mark Early, R-Chesapeake.

An omnibus drunken-driving bill sponsored by Sen. Thomas Norment, R-Williamsburg, and Cranwell that lowers the blood-alcohol level at which a driver is presumed impaired from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent; requires police to revoke a driver's license without a court hearing for up to seven days after an arrest for drunken driving; and allows authorities to seize the car driven by a person who continued to drive after having his or her license suspended for drunken driving.

Allen signed the drunken-driving bill, even though he had concerns about suspending the licenses of people who have been charged, but not yet convicted, of drunken driving.

"Sometimes you have to swallow a little bit that is not sweet,'' he said.

As for the "three strikes'' law, Allen credited former Salem Del. Steve Agee with coming up with the idea in 1987.

"He introduced this before it became popular,'' Allen said, recognizing Agee, a fellow Republican who drove to Richmond to attend the ceremony.

After the bill signing, Allen announced that he had set Sept. 19 as the beginning of a special legislative session to consider his recommendation of abolishing parole.

"With the same kind of bipartisan support we enjoyed this past session, we will be here again in six months to sign landmark legislation that will show the nation the way to get tough and also get smart in dealing with violent crime,'' he said.