Drunk drivers in Texas who kill parents of a child will now be required to pay child support

[Daltonio]

Drunk drivers in Texas who kill parents of a child will now be required to pay child support

Convicted drunk drivers who kill both parents of a child under 18 years old will now be required to pay child support under a bill signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott earlier this month.

Under House Bill 393, the person convicted of Intoxication manslaughter of both a child's parents will have to make monthly payments to the child's legal guardians. The law doesn't apply in situations where an adult's parents are killed in a collision.

The amount of money owed will be determined by an array of factors, including the standard of living the child is accustomed to, their physical and emotional condition and the child's educational needs, among other expenses related to being a parent.

The law goes into effect on Sept. 1. People convicted under the statute will be required to start making payments no more than a year after they are released from prison.

Texas has consistently ranked among the worst states for drunk drivers, most recently coming in at No. 3, according to Forbes Advisor. San Antonio has also been ranked among the U.S. cities with the highest rate of DWIs, coming in at No. 4 in 2021.

 

[passenger]

Darned good idea; especially if they can't keep these repeat offenders locked up!

 

[MrDawn]

As they should. It's only fair.

The only downside is if they go to prison for life is that prisoners don't make much if not at all while behind bars. If they have assets, those could be auctioned off as a down payment.

 

[passenger]

As they should. It's only fair.

The only downside is if they go to prison for life is that prisoners don't make much if not at all while behind bars. If they have assets, those could be auctioned off as a down payment.

Freekin' LOOPHOLES!

..............." start making payments no more than a year after they are released from prison."

 

[MrDawn]

Freekin' LOOPHOLES!

..............." start making payments no more than a year after they are released from prison."

They already are expected to once their release. It's called a penalty fine. Prisoners have to pay monthly payments based on how huge the fines are. If they fail to make payments, they get hauled back into court and end going back to prison.

 

[passenger]

They already are expected to once their release. It's called a penalty fine. Prisoners have to pay monthly payments based on how huge the fines are. If they fail to make payments, they get hauled back into court and end going back to prison.

YeahBut - What if they're sentenced to ....like....25 years....for vehicular homicide; then they don't have to start making any payments for 25 years! What good is that going to do the kid? Said kid will be not be a kid any more.

 

[MrDawn]

YeahBut - What if they're sentenced to ....like....25 years....for vehicular homicide; then they don't have to start making any payments for 25 years! What good is that going to do the kid? Said kid will be not be a kid any more.

I see what you're saying. It's sad that nothing can really be done to compensate the child for their loss.

 

[passenger]

I see what you're saying. It's sad that nothing can really be done to compensate the child for their loss.

Exactly! I guess what really pisses me off is what the hell is the point of writing/passing that law in the first place...in my mind that one little loophole totally invalidates the whole purpose.

 

[Daltonio]

The other thing that I wish was different about this - it only goes into effect if the drunk driver kills *both* of the child's parents. Which I feel like is probably a pretty rare occurrence. Just taking away one parent from a child (and another income stream) is painful enough for both the child and surviving parent, so I feel like even just killing one of them should be enough to stick this law on them.