Tougher legislation for drunk driving fatalities is being proposed by Washington state Rep. Christopher Hurst, D-Enumclaw, King County prosecutor Dan Satterberg, and Pierce County prosecutor Mark Lindquist.

The new legislation would increase the sentence for vehicular homicide from the current 31-41 months in prison to 78-102 months.  The new legislation sentence would match the sentence for first degree manslaughter.  Rep. Hurst states, ”I’ve seen the terrible carnage at these collision scenes and know the immeasurable suffering of surviving family members because some idiot chose to drive drunk…it’s time that we made the punishment fit the crime.”

Other additions to the new legislation for drunk drivers would include sentencing ranges affected by reckless driving or disregard for the safety of others, and vehicular assault.