Politics & Government
Looks Like Prom-Limo Driver's DUI Will Lead to State Law
"Hopefully this new law will give a little more piece-of-mind to people in Illinois who get in a taxi, bus or hire a driver to take their kids to prom," state Rep. Tom Cross says.
It looks like that limo driver who was charged with drunken driving while transporting Oswego students to prom in early May has become the poster child for a stricter DUI law for hired drivers.
A bill introduced by state Rep. Tom Cross, R-Oswego, has advanced out of the Illinois Senate and awaits Gov. Pat Quinn’s signature.
Cross sponsored the bill after Richard Madison, a limousine driver, was charged with misdemeanor DUI and reckless conduct after he drove students from Oswego East High School to prom in unincorporated Glen Ellyn last month.
If the governor signs Senate Bill 1764, it will allow hired drivers to be charged with a felony if they are found to be under the influence of alcohol while transporting passengers.
Although Madison’s blood alcohol level was three times the legal limit, he was not charged with a felony, according to a news release from Cross’ office.
Madison, of the 9900 block of Walnut Terrace, Palos Heights, was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of alcohol and one count of reckless conduct, both class A misdemeanors. Madison was driving a group of 23 Oswego East High School students to their May 11 prom at the Abbington Banquets in unincorporated Glen Ellyn, Glen Ellyn Patch reported.
"While (en) route, some of the students became alarmed due to the driver's erratic driving and called their parents to notify them of the situation," the DuPage County sheriff said at the time in a news release.
The legislation would give state's attorneys the ability to charge a for-hire driver with a Class 4 felony if he/she is guilty of driving passengers while under the influence of alcohol, Cross’ office said in a news release. The crime would be punishable by one to three years in prison or up to 2 ½ years of probation.
In addition, under the legislation a school bus driver who is found guilty of driving under the influence will be guilty of felony aggravated DUI, regardless of the age of the passengers.
“Hopefully this new law will give a little more piece-of-mind to people in Illinois who get in a taxi, bus or hire a driver to take their kids to prom,” Cross said in the news release. “It should also serve as a deterrent to these hired drivers in Illinois.”
