Special plates for repeat DUI offenders

A bill requiring repeat DUI offenders to outfit their cars with a special license plate, has been put aside until 2009.

Delegate Lionel Spruill Sr. of Chesapeake proposed the bill in this year’s General Assembly session. The bright yellow license plate with red lettering must stay on the car five years after a driver gets his or her license back.

“I would not put that on my car,” said Malik Washington, “it’s ugly.”

Washington, a VCU student, says the plates won’t have an affect on drunk drivers statewide.

“It’s kind of ugly,” says Ricky Clarkson, a Fan resident. “This isn’t going to work.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving, an advocate of DUI legislation, doesn’t favor the bill. Carter Hill, a local MADD chapter member, says the measure would be ineffective.

“Why do you have to wait until the third DUI before taking these kinds of actions,” says Hill.

Hill’s son was killed 10 years ago by a drunk driver. The driver was his son’s best friend; Hill’s son was the passenger. They were returning from a party when the friend lost control of the vehicle and hit a tree. Hill’s son was killed instantly; the best friend survived.

Delegate Spruill introduced a similar bill last year that died in committee.