Legislation is advancing in Pennsylvania to impose stiffer punishments on a repeat drunk-driving offender who kills someone while driving under the influence.
The Senate voted 45-4 on Wednesday to send the bill to the House.
Currently, a drunk driver who kills someone faces a three-year mandatory sentence. Under the bill, that sentence would rise to five years in prison for a repeat drunk driver and to seven years in prison for someone who has two or more prior drunk-driving convictions.
The bill imposes a consecutive prison term for each victim.
The sponsor, Sen. John Rafferty of Montgomery County, says about one-third of all drivers arrested or convicted of drunk driving are repeat offenders.
Meanwhile, the bill also increases the penalty to a third-degree felony for certain driving-under-the-influence repeat offenders.
