People who live in Nebraska might often hear others talk about how tough the laws related to drunk driving are in the state. However, it may seem to some that the laws are not quite strong enough. Too often, reports surface about accidents that are caused by intoxicated or drugged drivers who have been convicted of impaired driving offenses before. The fact that the law allows these people to keep driving and engage in the same behaviors can be hard to understand or appreciate.
The family of one teenage boy could well be among the people who feel the laws could benefit from being stronger. The teen died after the car he was riding it was struck by a drunk driver who failed to stop at a red light. The driver was also exceeding the speed limit by nearly 15 miles per hour. The boy was only 14 years old. He was in the car with his father and the pair were on their way to a choir event when life changed forever.
The dad experienced severe head and facial injuries and the son survived long enough to be taken to a hospital but died once there. The drunk driver has now been convicted of vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence of alcohol. The maximum prison sentence allowed under law was 53 years. The judge imposed a sentence of between 43 and 53 years.
However, many sentences end up being shortened and this makes it possible that the drunk driver will spend less than 27 years in prison.
