Sweeping Alaska Crime Bill Addresses DUI in the State!
A sweeping crime bill addressing Alaska DUI, the collection of DNA for those arrested for felonies in the state, and other issues has passed the state House and Senate and is awaiting signature from Governor Sarah Palin.
The drunken driving aspect of this compressive legislation would make it harder for people convicted of DUI and ordered not to consume alcohol as part of their DUI sentencing from doing so by having their driver's license or state ID cards stamped.
Specifically, anyone convicted of Alaska DUI would have these forms of identification specially marked so that places selling or distributing alcohol know that they are prohibited from consuming alcohol under the terms of their probation or parole. This special distinction would be removed once the convicted Alaska DUI offender satisfied the terms of his or her parole.
An Anchorage Daily News story detailed how this provision of the bill was backed in large part by Representative Harry Crawford, whose wife was struck by a drunken driver on Christmas Eve on 2004. Specifically, Gwen Perry-Crawford was walking home with her son from church when she was hit by a man driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level that was four times the legal 0.08 percent legal limit under Alaska DUI law. The man later agreed to a five-year prison term as part of the plea deal. Perry-Crawford had to undergo seven surgeries after the drunken driving accident.
While Crawford acknowledged that alcohol vendors may not check the IDs of everyone making purchases nor are they necessarily responsible to do so, he said that the DUI aspect of the omnibus bill would aim to prevent such accidents from occurring again. Visit The DUI Blog and of course Total DUI for the latest developments with this aspect of the Alaska crime bill.
Other Aspects of this Sweeping Alaska Crime Bill
This crime legislation would not only bolster the DUI laws in Alaska but also attack other crimes in the state. The Anchorage Daily News story detailed how this bill initially dealt with bail hearing before infiltrating into other areas of the law, from DUI to DNA profiling to much more.
This Alaska crime bill would also institute a DNA clause allowing law enforcement officials to collect DNA samples from adults arrested on felony charges or even a misdemeanor. This aspect of the bill was added after a 13-year old murder of an Anchorage teenager was solved by the use of a DNA sample. People who submit and are exonerated would have their DNA sample removed from the database.
Other aspects of this Alaska crime package include making it a misdemeanor for any sex offender who violates his or her parole and bolstering a law making it illegal for adults to send indecent materials to minors. Read more about these other aspects of this Alaska criminal defense package at Total Lawyers and Total Criminal Defense under their respective articles sections.
Knowing the DUI Laws in Your State!
This comprehensive crime package addressing Alaska DUI is another example of why you need to stay updated on the DUI laws in your state. Whether part of comprehensive legislation or standing on their own, proposed DUI laws are constantly trying to curb drunk driving. While unbeknownst to you, these types of changes could have a big impact in your DUI case.
So if you've been charged with DUI, be sure to get in touch with a local DUI attorney as soon as possible. Simply fill out our free DUI case evaluation form or call 1 (877) 349-1311, and we'll help you get in touch with an experienced DUI attorney in your area who can help you learn more about the DUI laws in your state and how they may be applied to your case.