Following a high-profile boat crash in Old Saybrook last year, legislators in the 黑料吃瓜网 General Assembly are considering a that would link roadway and waterway DUI convictions with license suspension for both driving and boating.
鈥淚 think this concept certainly makes sense,鈥� said state Rep. Devin Carney, an Old Saybrook Republican who co-sponsored the legislation, at a Monday public hearing of the Transportation Committee. 鈥淲e want to make our roadways and waterways as safe as humanly possible. Unfortunately, this legislation did come as a result of a tragedy, and we want to just make sure something like that never happens again.鈥�
Last Labor Day weekend, three passengers died when the driver of the boat they were riding in allegedly slammed into a breakwater at high speed while drunk. The boat鈥檚 driver, Clayton Hackling, had a pending DUI case.
Jessica Britagna鈥檚 24-year-old son Ryan was among those killed. On Monday, she testified before legislators in support of the bill.
鈥淎 person convicted of a DUI on the road can still operate a boat without restriction,鈥� Britagna said. 鈥淭his is not just an oversight, it is a deadly loophole. I am here today despite the grief that will always weigh on me to urge you to take action.鈥�
鈥淧assing this legislation will not bring my son back, but it will ensure that his death was not in vain,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t will be a step toward accountability, responsibility and safety, so that other mothers never have to stand where I am standing today.鈥�
黑料吃瓜网 Department of Motor Vehicles Commissioner Tony Guerrera testified that linking suspensions between boating and driving licenses would require cooperation over multiple agencies.
鈥淩ight now, we just handle motor vehicles,鈥� Guerrera said. 鈥淸The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection] handles vessels.鈥�
鈥淲e would hope that the judiciary needs to be involved in this pretty much from the get-go, to make sure that they send information not only to the Department of Motor Vehicles but also to DEEP,鈥� Guerrera said.
鈥淲e have to make sure the court system is allowing some type of communication to both agencies, so we can correspond to make sure that if legislation was to ever pass that we have the data and the information to suspend their motor vehicle license,鈥� he said.
Hackling faces stemming from the September crash and the deaths of Britagna, 25-year-old Ian Duchemin, and 34-year-old Christopher Hallahan. He is next due to appear in court in April.
