Nothing can bring back a loved one lost in an accident, but a first-of-its-kind Tennessee bill regarding a drunk driving law is one step closer to helping ease the burden.
Passed unanimously in February by Tennessee’s House, Ethan, Haile, and Bentley’s Law (aka HB 1834), “requires a sentencing court to order a defendant who has been convicted of vehicular homicide or aggravated vehicular homicide due to intoxication and in which the victim of the offense was the parent of a minor child to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance to each of the victim’s children until each child reaches 18 years of age and has graduated from high school.”
Now, the bill has been signed by the Tennessee Senate and has to just clear the signature of Gov. Bill Lee in order to be law.
Bentley’s law: Grandma aims to make DUI offenders pay victims’ orphaned kids https://t.co/knPFv6B9al pic.twitter.com/723zm5mpnv
— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) November 18, 2021
Bentley’s Law is a result of mother and grandmother, Cecilia Williams, worst nightmare. In a terrible drunk driving accident, she lost her son Cordell Williams, his girlfriend Lacey Newton and their four-month-old son Cordell II back in April 2021.
The couple left behind two children, Bentley and Lacey Williams when they were rear-ended by a drunk driver with twice the legal limit. Cecilia tells News Channel 9, “They will always remember, this is what I did to the family, you know, and it will sink into them. I can’t do this again. You know, I’m supporting children that aren’t mine.”
State Representative Mark Hall, who sponsored the bill, told The Black Wall Street Times that “It definitely sends a message that drunk driving in the state of Tennessee is no longer tolerated.”
“Those that [drink and drive] will be held accountable.”#Tennessee lawmakers passed legislation that would require a person to pay child support if they are convicted of vehicular homicide of a parent with minor children while drunk driving. https://t.co/fqOIDSLhPe
— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) April 21, 2022
If the convicted driver can’t pay while incarcerated, they will have one year after prison release to start making child support payments. If they aren’t up to date by the time the children turn 18 they will have to continue to make payments until the full amount has been paid.
According to CBS News, payment amounts will be determined by the financial needs and resources of the child and their surviving parent or guardian. Additionally, the child’s accustomed standard of living will also play a role in configuring the payment amounts.
Now that the law has passed in the House and the Senate, it will go to the Tennessee Governor as the final step. The high-profile drunk driving law has already gained momentum and other states have started considering passing a similar version as well.
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