by Jess Leber
One state lawmaker calls Maryland’s lack of a vehicular manslaughter law “a cosmic absurdity.”
For grieving families and friends of vehicular manslaughter victims, the law is simply tragic.
Almost 5,000 people have joined Kenniss Henry, a Maryland mother who is still mourning her only child’s death last September, in calling on the Maryland legislature to revise the law. As it stands now, a criminally-reckless driver faces no more than a traffic violation for killing another human being. Even if the driver is flouting the speed limit. Or edging too close to a cyclist. As long as he is not drunk, he will likely not face criminal charges.
This week, Ms. Henry wrote a note to signers of the petition: “Thank you for all of your support. There are no words to express how much this means to me, and how much it would have meant to my daughter.” The support has really flowed, and a number of state legislators have noted the emails they’ve received from their constituents via Ms. Henry’s petition. The document at the bottom of this post shows just some of the personalized comments left by Maryland residents when they signed, expressing the many reasons why this law should be passed. Some have also seen loved ones killed or injured.
If you haven’t signed yet, you can add your name here.
Ms. Henry was among 21 people who testified for the bill at a committee hearing in February. Others who testified in its support included other victims’ relatives, a mayor, both state and private practice attorneys, regional cycling advocates from Maryland and DC, and a former state legislator who once sat on the very same committee. (Read more on Bike Maryland’s website).
Kenniss Henry is relative new to this fight. Adiva Sotzky, on the other hand, has been at it for six years, ever since a distracted driver killed her husband while he was on his motorcycle. Ms. Sotzky has been leading the charge and is very familiar with the ways previous versions of this bill have stagnated in the House of Delegates.
Both Ms. Henry and Ms. Sotzky say the hearing went extremely well, but that doesn’t necessarily mean much. For seven previous years, the bill has stagnated in the committee without ever even coming up for a vote.
The best thing to be done right now is to make sure Maryland’s House delegates have the chance to pass this important legislation. They have to do it before April, when this year’s session is already over.
If you live in Maryland, will you directly email or call House Speaker Michael Busch? Tell him you support H.B. 363 — the Vehicular Manslaughter Act — and want to make sure it gets out of committee this year for a full vote. Make sure you’ve signed the petition, then tell him you’ve already emailed your delegate about the bill.
Email: michael.busch@house.state.md.us
Phone: (410) 841-3800 or (301) 858-3800
As Kenniss Henry says: “I never really been involved in lobbying for legislation at this level—trying to move something from where it is to where it needs to be. I was very moved by the hearing, and I was honored to be a part of this group. …I have met advocates who lost family members as far back as seven years ago and I know that you agree, seven years is long enough.”
Sign the petition and—if you live in Maryland—make the phone call above.
Continue reading “Alert: 4,800 People Join to End Maryland’s Reckless Driving Loophole”
