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Md. Senate approves tougher penalties for adults who allow underage drinking Md. Senate approves tougher penalties for adults who allow underage drinking
(about 3 hours later)
The Maryland Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill authorizing prison sentences for adults who provide alcohol to people who are underage or host a party where someone younger than 21 is drinking.The Maryland Senate on Thursday unanimously approved a bill authorizing prison sentences for adults who provide alcohol to people who are underage or host a party where someone younger than 21 is drinking.
The legislation — drafted after a teenager got drunk at party in Montgomery County, crashed his car and killed two passengers — will now be debated in the House of Delegates.The legislation — drafted after a teenager got drunk at party in Montgomery County, crashed his car and killed two passengers — will now be debated in the House of Delegates.
[‘We felt invincible’: Report details deadly wreck, party that preceded it][‘We felt invincible’: Report details deadly wreck, party that preceded it]
“At minimum, this legislation addresses the supply-side of underage drinking’s supply-and-demand paradigm,” said Kurt Erickson, the executive director of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program. “At maximum, this potentially lifesaving bill will serve as a deterrent to parents’ enabling of unlawful teen drinking and its too often life-changing consequences.” “At minimum, this legislation addresses the supply-side of underage drinking’s supply-and-demand paradigm,” said Kurt Erickson, executive director of the Washington Regional Alcohol Program. “At maximum, this potentially lifesaving bill will serve as a deterrent to parents’ enabling of unlawful teen drinking and its too often life-changing consequences.”
The legislation has been dubbed “Alex and Calvin’s Law” after Alex Murk and Calvin Li, the teenagers from Rockville who died last June shortly after graduating from Thomas S. Wootton High School.The legislation has been dubbed “Alex and Calvin’s Law” after Alex Murk and Calvin Li, the teenagers from Rockville who died last June shortly after graduating from Thomas S. Wootton High School.
The teens and the teenager who was driving the car had been at a party at the home of Kenneth Saltzman, 49, who was issued two criminal citations for allowing underage drinking. A judge levied the maximum fine of $2,500 for each violation.The teens and the teenager who was driving the car had been at a party at the home of Kenneth Saltzman, 49, who was issued two criminal citations for allowing underage drinking. A judge levied the maximum fine of $2,500 for each violation.
The bill approved in the Senate on Thursday would stiffen the penalty to up to a year in prison and a fine of $5,000 for a first offense, and up to two years in prison and $7,500 for a second or subsequent offense.The bill approved in the Senate on Thursday would stiffen the penalty to up to a year in prison and a fine of $5,000 for a first offense, and up to two years in prison and $7,500 for a second or subsequent offense.
Twenty-six other states already include the possibility of jail time for adults convicted of providing alcohol to people younger than 21. Twenty-six other states include the possibility of jail time for adults convicted of providing alcohol to people younger than 21.
[Stiffer penalties approved by Senate panel][Stiffer penalties approved by Senate panel]
During hearings, law enforcement officials, advocates and family members of drunk driving victims pleaded with lawmakers to pass “Alex and Calvin’s” bill. During hearings, law enforcement officials, advocates and family members of drunken driving victims pleaded with lawmakers to pass “Alex and Calvin’s” bill.
David Murk and Paul Li, the teenagers’ fathers, also gave emotional testimony, with Li telling the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, “my heart was shattered in pieces” when he went to the morgue to see his son’s body.David Murk and Paul Li, the teenagers’ fathers, also gave emotional testimony, with Li telling the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, “my heart was shattered in pieces” when he went to the morgue to see his son’s body.
Montgomery County Capt. Tom Didone said police have cracked down on 30 underage drinking parties since the teenagers’ deaths. A third of them, he said, were hosted by adults.Montgomery County Capt. Tom Didone said police have cracked down on 30 underage drinking parties since the teenagers’ deaths. A third of them, he said, were hosted by adults.
The judicial committee took the unusual step of voting on the bill before the testimony was finished. It passed unanimously, as people in the audience cheered and members of Murk’s and Li’s families wept.The judicial committee took the unusual step of voting on the bill before the testimony was finished. It passed unanimously, as people in the audience cheered and members of Murk’s and Li’s families wept.
There was no floor debate on the bill in the Senate on Thursday before another unanimous vote.There was no floor debate on the bill in the Senate on Thursday before another unanimous vote.