Medlin-Freeto Law signed

"nine law enforcement officers have been struck and killed by drunken drivers in Texas since 2002"

Governor Rick Perry signed a bill on Tuesday that increases the punishment for drunk drivers who kill first responders. This includes policemen, firemen, EMS personnel, and other emergency personnel. The bill makes it possible for someone to serve a life sentence for this crime. The law increases the sentence from twenty years to ninety-nine years. The law takes effect starting September 1st.
Representative Paula Pierson, an Arlington Democrat, authored the new law. She wanted to make sure that those putting their lives at risk to protect citizens know that their lives are valued.

The Medlin-Freeto Law is named after two officers who were killed while helping citizens by drunk drivers. Medlin was killed outside of his patrol car by a drunk driver, and Freeto was struck and killed while helping a woman change a flat tire.

I think this law is very reasonable and hopefully will make people think a little harder before they get behind the wheel intoxicated. Before, a person who served there sentence could get out in twenty years and then have the opportunity to do the same thing. Now, there is no possibility for this to happen. It was time that Texas cracked down harder on drunk drivers who kill innocent bystanders. Hopefully, the statistic will go down and instead of nine deaths in five years there will be no first responder deaths due to drunk drivers.

To read more about this: Law offers some comfort for officers' kin