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Law enforcement rallies support for DWI bills

Ellen Pitt organized the press conference on the Jackson County Historic Courthouse steps. She was joined by law enforcement from around the region. Ellen Pitt organized the press conference on the Jackson County Historic Courthouse steps. She was joined by law enforcement from around the region. Kyle Perrotti photo

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Williams also discussed H 147, which would allow for a civil revocation of a driver’s license if a driver is impaired on a narcotic other than alcohol.

“This will bring parity to that,” Williams said.

H 211 would eliminate a mitigating factor that currently exists in DWI cases. Right now, if a driver is between .08 and .1, they are not punished as harshly as those who have more alcohol in their system.

“We don’t think that should be a mitigating factor when they’re still violating the law,” Williams said.

Finally, he discussed H 212, which would help those who complete sobriety court to dispose of a DWI charge to pay for reinstatement of their license while also helping pay for certain measures during the process such as an ignition interlock.

“If they're able to do that, then we feel that they're making a good faith effort, then we feel if they're able to do this in a sobriety court, then we feel that they should be punished through, or they should be rewarded for that,” he said.

Mike Clampitt, R-Haywood, brought the series of bills to the General Assembly at the beginning of this year. Those bills all currently sit in committee and must be heard by the May 4 deadline for crossover, at which point bills have to be out of the House to be heard in the Senate and vice-versa. Although that deadline is rapidly approaching, Clampitt told The Smoky Mountain News he remains confident.

“We’ve been mostly tied up with budget stuff,” Clampitt said. “I feel like we have good momentum right now and at the moment I’m very optimistic.”

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3 comments

  • Here Are The Top 25 Causes of Car Crashes
    1. Distracted Driving
    2. Speeding
    3. Drunk Driving


    How about we we work on ENFORCING ALL the issues?
    I am passed everyday by folks doing 80 or 90++MPH in a
    55MPH zone. (Heading to give casino money I guess?!)
    I NEVER see anyone stopped.
    Did you know that the NCHP is short 100's of troopers?
    It's hard to enforce ANY law if you don't have the personnel.

    posted by tom

    Tuesday, 05/09/2023

  • I feel a .05 is too extreme.
    At that point just having a single beer or glass of
    wine with dinner will put one over the top.
    I can have a single beer with dinner and NOT endanger
    myself or others.
    Our great Nanny State-----

    posted by tom

    Tuesday, 05/09/2023

  • As a driver, parent, grandparent and great-grandparent, I support the 0.05 blood-alcohol limit. My other "credentials include regular primary and general election voting.
    Carlton Bostic

    posted by Carlton Bostic

    Friday, 04/28/2023

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