HS Party with Alcohol... Death

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids were not out of control, they were good kids who made terrible decisions that night that resulted in a horrific, deadly accident.

What I don't understand is why everyone protecting the homeowner of the underage drinking party and the person that supplied the alcohol?

I don't think people are, at least, not on here, but official charges haven't been made yet so maybe people don't want to speculate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here -my text got lost in quote.

Here it is.

Parent of an almost-18 yo. We told DD that we would pick her up, no questions asked, at anytime day or night. We told her that she would never get in trouble for this.

We also told her that if she was EVER found to be drinking / drugging and driving that we would personally arrange for the MVA to rescind her license until she was an adult (the MVA has a process for this). We bought a breathalyzer and did test her with it once, mostly just to prove that we would use it and she shouldn't think it was an empty threat.

She called us. Not terribly often, but enough that I noticed that she took us seriously. Would I prefer she didn't drink? Yes. Would I prefer that I didn't have to occasionally drag myself out of bed after sleeping to pick her up? Yes. But I took great care to reinforce that my number one value was no drinking and driving. I NEVER lectured her for having me pick her up. If it had become a weekly thing, perhaps I would revisit my approach, but it was infrequent enough that I never indicated I minded. I didn't want to create any disincentive to being called

I'm the PP of the above. Wanted to add something. DH and I drink at home and at dinner out occasionally (in moderation). One time we drank too much on a date and ubered home. I made a big deal about telling DD that we did that. I emphasized that while it would be better not go have done that - we were absolutely unwilling to drive drunk.

I've also told DD that if for some reason she cannot arrange a ride etc; better to stay out all night without permission than to arrive dead and on time. Ie don't freak out that you have to get home no matter the cost. She never stayed out all night. But with all the above information I hope I've made it clear to her there is no excuse or justification in the world for drunk driving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids were not out of control, they were good kids who made terrible decisions that night that resulted in a horrific, deadly accident.

Do you really think that it was the first time this kid drove drunk or just the first time he killed people while doing so.

[Anonymous]

What will happen legally to the kid who was driving the car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What will happen legally to the kid who was driving the car?

I predict 18 months in jail if he is competent to do so, not sure if his injuries render him incompetent or not.

The penalty in Maryland will depend on the specific crime and degree of responsibility found to apply by the judge or jury. The maximum sentences for the various involuntary manslaughter or vehicular homicides are: Manslaughter (including involuntary) is a felony that can be punished by up to 10 years imprisonment and a $500 fine. Vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence is a felony that can be punished by up to 10 years in prison and a $5,000 fine or both. Vehicular manslaughter with criminal negligence is a misdemeanor that can be punished by up to 3 years in prison and a fine up to $5,000. Vehicular homicide while under the influence of alcohol is a felony subject to up to 5 years of prison and up to $5,000. Vehicular homicide while impaired by alcohol, drugs, or a controlled dangerous substance is a felony punishable by up to 3 years imprisonment and a fine up to $5,000. - See more at: http://statelaws.findlaw.com/maryland-law/maryland-involuntary-manslaughter-law.html#sthash.m3QGUNwt.dpuf

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:These kids were not out of control, they were good kids who made terrible decisions that night that resulted in a horrific, deadly accident.

What I don't understand is why everyone protecting the homeowner of the underage drinking party and the person that supplied the alcohol?

I'm not. I'm the lawyer who posted pages ago that Host Liability applies in MD so the parents who hosted can be charged criminally or sued later in civil court.

[Anonymous]

Unfortunately this happens every year. HS students die in car crash because of drunk driving, speeding and not wearing seat belts and kids drowning in swimming pools during summer camp. Every. Single. Year.

These are preventable tragedies. So, what do we need to do?

[Anonymous]

What kind of car was it?
Was the car owned by the driver?

[Anonymous]

The guy that broke into my house and another got 15 years. i doubt this kid will get that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Unfortunately this happens every year. HS students die in car crash because of drunk driving, speeding and not wearing seat belts and kids drowning in swimming pools during summer camp. Every. Single. Year.

These are preventable tragedies. So, what do we need to do?

We could raise the driving age to 18.

[Anonymous]

However UNintentional it may be, parents are completely enabling this HIGH risk activity of the kids driving.

Few families have a truly dire need for a 16 or 17 year old to be driving. But most every mom and dad wants their kid to be the cool kid in high school with a car.

We should rethink this mentality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What kind of car was it?
Was the car owned by the driver?

?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What kind of car was it?
Was the car owned by the driver?

?

It was a 2006 Acura TSX. No idea who owned it. But that does go to the question of liability. Whoever owns the car can be sued for letting him drive.

[Anonymous]

Remember Kevin Coffay? Who drove drunk and killed three of his friends and ran off and left them? (in Olney)
He had his sentenced reduced.
Apparently he is already eligible for parole.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/judges-cut-kevin-coffays-sentence-in-md-drunk-driving-case-to-8-years/2012/04/20/gIQA76bNWT_blog.html

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Remember Kevin Coffay? Who drove drunk and killed three of his friends and ran off and left them? (in Olney)
He had his sentenced reduced.
Apparently he is already eligible for parole.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/crime-scene/post/judges-cut-kevin-coffays-sentence-in-md-drunk-driving-case-to-8-years/2012/04/20/gIQA76bNWT_blog.html

From a criminal law perspective, this is considered reasonable.