Eagan Senator Wants Steeper Penalties for Careless Drivers Involved in Deadly Crashes
In Dakota County alone, nine drivers prosecuted for careless driving have killed a total of 14 people in recent years, according to the county attorney.
Follow Eagan Patch on Twitter | Like us on Facebook | Sign up for our daily newsletter | Blog for us Careless or reckless drivers whose actions cause a deadly accident or severe injuries could face steeper penalties under a new bill proposed by District 51 Sen. Jim Carlson (DFL), who represents Eagan. The bill, SF 206, was authored by Carlson and introduced to the Senate on Jan. 31. Senators Jim Metzen (DFL), Katie Sieben (DFL) and Greg Clausen (DFL) are listed as co-authors on the legislation. Current Minnesota laws prevent prosecutors from charging careless drivers with anything more significant than a misdemeanor—even if that driver's behavior caused a death or severe injuries. In Minnesota, the maximum penalty for a misdemeanor crime …
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Steve Scholl
5:18 pm on Sunday, March 17, 2013
The idea is great. It has my complete support, but how one determines guilt and causality are questions of concern. How do you prove, beyond reasonable doubt, that someone was careless? How do you prove, conclusively, that the carelessness actually caused something else? It would be nice to have the legislation, but I wonder if a good attorney will just shred it to pieces? steve scholl more ›