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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew Law to Require Drunk Drivers to Pay Child Support if Parent is Killed
A new law has been passed in Tennessee that will hold drunk drivers financially responsible for the children left behind in the wake of a fatal accident.
The law was unanimously passed in the Tennessee House Monday, News Channel 9 reported.
Cecilia Williams came up with the idea for the bill after a drunk driver killed her 30-year-old son Cordell, 25-year-old daughter-in-law-to-be Lacey and four-month-old grandson Cordell II in Missouri on April 13, 2021, News Channel 9 reported. The law is named "Bentley's Law" after the eldest of the couple's two surviving children.
https://www.newsweek.com/new-law-require-drunk-drivers-pay-child-support-if-parent-killed-1685047
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Still has to go to the State Senate and Governor, but it's interesting that it got unanimous support. Nobody wants to look like they're in favor of drunk drivers over innocent children who've lost their parent(s).
lpbk2713
(42,696 posts)And the deeper the drunk driver's pockets, the more they should pay.
Mariana
(14,849 posts)Shouldn't anyone who kills the parent of a minor child should be required to support that child?
BadGimp
(4,009 posts)I'm going to bet this is clearly unconstitutional at a minimum.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Chainfire
(17,305 posts)flying_wahini
(6,520 posts)marybourg
(12,540 posts)children has always been part of suits against at fault drivers, drunk or not.
The problem has always been finding the means to pay. And this news item does not report any advance on that issue in the new law. Does the law provide that all drivers in the state carry sufficient insurance to pay such a claim against them? Ahhh. Probably not.
And are the low wage at-fault drivers own children to be left unsupported during the childhoods of the victims children?
As an aside, if it still has to go to the state senate and the Governor, it hasnt been passed.
Sorry, I usually manage to keep my thoughts to myself on this board, but sometimes it just gets away. Ill probably self-delete in a few hours.
TomSlick
(11,032 posts)I can't imagine what this would add to existing wrongful death laws.
Mr.Bill
(24,103 posts)in California, you will likely still be in prison when that child becomes an adult.