Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

[Chomsky]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

A Tennessee bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent due to intoxication or aggravated vehicular homicide has passed.

House Bill 1834 would require a person who is convicted of vehicular homicide to pay restitution in the form of child maintenance if their victim was the parent of a minor child. Each child of the victim would receive the restitution until they reach 18 years old and graduate high school.

The payments are similar to traditional child support, in which a parent pays the primary caregiver of their child until that child becomes a legal adult at 18.

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This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below.

 

[tres borrachos]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

--

This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below.

I saw this on the news this morning. I actually think it's a good bill.

 

[PoS]

Sounds good to me. Even better if these drunks are forced to donate 90% of their future money to the victim's family.

 

[Chomsky]

I saw this on the news this morning. I actually think it's a good bill.

The general idea of remuneration for surviving children would seem to have merit.

But, I'm not sure using the Child Support system is the right mechanism.

 

[Moon]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

--

This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below.

I agree it’s interesting and I support it based on what’s presented. I am curious about what unintended consequences may come from this.

 

[Chomsky]

I agree it’s interesting and I support it based on what’s presented. I am curious about what unintended consequences may come from this.

Yep. Which is why I have some reservations of using this particular enforcement mechanism.

I'm not dead against it. I'm just concerned about government expansion of this specific enforcement program, and as you said, possible unintended consequences.

 

[Juggernaut74]

I agree it’s interesting and I support it based on what’s presented. I am curious about what unintended consequences may come from this.

Same thought I had. I like the gist of the idea…but probably need to think it through a bit more fully.

 

[Goshin]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

--

This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below

Yeah. Poor kid cannot "be made whole" but he/she ought to get something out of it.

Seems though you can either send them to prison OR do this, not both. Does the kid much less good if you don't start paying until you've served 5-10 years or whatever.

 

[ttwtt78640]

It makes little (or no) sense to do so only for that single (and unintentional?) form of vehicular manslaughter (BTW, intoxicated was mentioned in the articles text, but along with aggravated) while not doing so for other forms of homicide. If the perp had shot or stabbed the cop (or other parent) to death then why should they not owe child support restitution?

 

[Goshin]

Heinlein postulated a fictional society where, if you killed someone unlawfully, you had to pay their heirs their presumed lifetime earnings.

He concluded, "If you want to murder someone, do it in a society that will just hang you."

 

[ttwtt78640]

Heinlein postulated a fictional society where, if you killed someone unlawfully, you had to pay their heirs their presumed lifetime earnings.

He concluded, "If you want to murder someone, do it in a society that will just hang you."

I’m OK with the concept, but think that it should require proof of intent to kill. Doing so for involuntary manslaughter is a bit much, IMHO.

 

[Lloyd Christmas]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

--

This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below.

What a strange law. And really, what is the point when most people don't make enough money for themselves let alone pay for child support? they likely will never be able to pay

I agree it’s interesting and I support it based on what’s presented. I am curious about what unintended consequences may come from this.

This seems to set a bad precedent. Where does it stop? What if a patient dies, possibly by doctor error, make him pay child support for life?

 

[Common Sense 1]

Make people responsible for damage they have caused. Seems like a good idea?

 

[Chomsky]

Yeah. Poor kid cannot "be made whole" but he/she ought to get something out of it.

Seems though you can either send them to prison OR do this, not both. Does the kid much less good if you don't start paying until you've served 5-10 years or whatever.

Why not?

 

[Chomsky]

I’m OK with the concept, but think that it should require proof of intent to kill. Doing so for involuntary manslaughter is a bit much, IMHO.

Hm, that might be a fair statement.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Hm, that might be a fair statement.

Please see post #9.

 

[Chomsky]

What a strange law. And really, what is the point when most people don't make enough money for themselves let alone pay for child support? they likely will never be able to pay



This seems to set a bad precedent. Where does it stop? What if a patient dies, possibly by doctor error, make him pay child support for life?

The bolded is my fear, exactly.

@ttwtt78640 had a good observation, I think. There is a difference between premeditated homicide, and involuntary or negligent homicide.

 

[d0gbreath]

Like squeezing blood from stones.

 

[Jkca1]

How much do jobs in Tennessee jails pay?

 

[vanceen]

I’m OK with the concept, but think that it should require proof of intent to kill. Doing so for involuntary manslaughter is a bit much, IMHO.

Driving while drunk fits the "depraved heart" standard, i.e. acting with indifference to the risk to human life. That's second or third degree murder in many states.

I don't see why intent to kill should be a pre-requisite for accountability.

 

[mrjurrs]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

--

This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below.

How many of these drunk drivers will already be behind in paying for their own child's support?

 

[Lord Tammerlain]

Tennessee passes bill that would require drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a parent of a minor

If the defendant is incarcerated and unable to pay the required child maintenance, they have one year after their release to begin paying.

www.cbsnews.com

--

This is an interesting concept, though I'm not exactly sure what to make of it.

So, I'll see what the good posters of DP think below.

I would have thought they would be in jail, paying child support when in jail would be difficult

 

[Goshin]

Why not?

If he's in jail ten years, the kid may be grown by then. Little benefit.

 

[Chomsky]

If he's in jail ten years, the kid may be grown by then. Little benefit.

They don't get 10 years.

And regardless, criminal penalties should never be withdrawn if warranted (IMO).

But, you make a very good point in that even a year, or two, or three is a significant portion of a child's life.

 

[Chomsky]

How many of these drunk drivers will already be behind in paying for their own child's support?

Yeah, but by the same extension, "How many Welch on lump sum debts?"