Law Named For Delco Woman Killed By Repeat DUI Offender Advances

HARRISBURG, PA — A law drafted in honor of a Delaware County woman killed by a repeat DUI offender is advancing in the Pennsylvania State House.

"Deana's Law," formally State Senate Bill 773, was passed in the State Senate with a 43-6 vote.

State Sen. Tom Killion (R – Chester/Delaware) introduced the bill. It's number, 773, pays tribute to Eckman's birth month and year.

Now, the bill will head to the House for a final vote.

Deana Eckman, 45, of Brookhaven, was killed by David Matthew Strowhouer, 30, of Newtown Square, in Upper Chichester on Feb. 16, 2019.

Strowhouer pleaded to third degree murder and homicide by vehicle while DUI, both first-degree felonies, felony aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, and related offenses.

The fatal incident was Strowhouer sixth DUI case.

He was sentenced to 25 and a half to 51 years in prison

"We must utilize everything at our disposal to keep those who have multiple DUIs from endangering lives on our roadways," Killion said in a statement. "My bill will mandate the use of continuous alcohol monitoring (CAM) devices for the first time in Pennsylvania."

Similar to home arrest monitors and other devices affixed to offenders, CAM devices are strapped to the wearer.

At regular intervals, CAM devices sample and test the wearer's insensate perspiration for the presence of alcohol.

As sensitive and reliable as Breathalyzers, CAM devices upload test results to a base station installed in the wearer's home and transmits them to the monitoring agency.

CAM devices have been used for the last seven years in York County as part of the adjudication of DUI cases. York experienced a 90 percent decline in DUI recidivism in the first year of their use. DUI fatalities in York dropped 21 percent from the previous three-year average during that same period.

Requiring those arrested for a third or subsequent DUI offense be fitted with a CAM device is just one of the innovative methods and changes provided for in Deana's Law.

Killion's legislation would also:

• Increase jail time for those convicted of four DUIs or more. Those convicted of a fourth offense would be subject to a five- to 10-year sentence rather than the current three-and-a-half to seven years. Fifth and subsequent DUI convictions would expose the felony offender to a 10- to 20-year sentence rather than the current three-and-a-half to seven years.

• Require the imposition of consecutive sentences after conviction. Deana's Law would mandate that those convicted of a third DUI offense serve the sentence for that offense consecutively to any other sentence the offender is serving and to any other sentence to be imposed by the court.

"These crimes are so egregious, those convicted of them should not be allowed the luxury of serving DUI sentences concurrently" Killion said. "It was a concurrent sentence which allowed the individual who killed Deana to be on the road rather than behind bars."

Additionally, the bill would:

• Mandate the impoundment of a vehicle used in a DUI offense at the time of a third DUI arrest. If enacted, this will be the first Pennsylvania statutory requirement to impound a vehicle because of a DUI offense which is practiced in states across the country.

• Direct the Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to formulate recommendations regarding the establishment of DUI Courts and increase from one years to two years the required period for the installation of an interlock device on any vehicle operated by a person convicted of three or more DUIs

The bill has 13 co-sponsors, both Republicans and Democrats.