A new law in Texas requires convicted drunk drivers to pay child support if they kill a child’s parent or guardian, according to House Bill 393.

The law, which went into effect Friday, says those convicted of intoxication manslaughter must pay restitution. The offender will be expected to make those payments until the child is 18 or until the child graduates from high school, “whichever is later,” the legislation says.

Intoxication manslaughter is defined by state law as a person operating “a motor vehicle in a public place, operates an aircraft, a watercraft, or an amusement ride, or assembles a mobile amusement ride; and is intoxicated and by reason of that intoxication causes the death of another by accident or mistake.”

  • Blackmist@feddit.uk
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    1 year ago

    I suspect it will just end in a lot of “Well, the guy that killed your dad was poor, so you’re not getting any child support”.

    • FuglyDuck@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Not to mention…. Manslaughter. Vehicular homicide with a dui modifier. Not sure about Texas but some places that becomes a felony.

      So most duis that lead to the death of someone else…. Are absolutely going to jail.

      Which is very much not conducive to paying child support.