New Md. bill to require drunk drivers appear in court

MARYLAND – Maryland State Senator Mary Beth Carozza is introducing a bill that she says will give closure to families who have lost loved ones due to drunk driving.

The bill would force someone charged with negligent driving including during a fatal crash to appear in court, and remove the ability for them to pay upwards of a $1,000 fine without that appearance.

A second bill also introduced by Senator Carozza would increase the jail time imposed upon people who cause death or life-threatening injury due to criminally negligent driving, up from a maximum of three years.

“Legislation that I have introduced that has been pushed by victims, you know, victims of those who have been killed by negligent or reckless driving. So I am going forward with that bill. It has been introduced. It has a hearing scheduled on January 24th,” Senator Carozza said.

Carozza says the bills received unanimous votes to move forward last session and hopes they will be moved forward this year by the General Assembly.