“Trenton’s Law” To Increase Sentences For DUI Manslaughter

Drinking and driving is often trivialized and seen as a minor mistake. The reasoning is that so many people like to drink and have fun. They don’t mean to cause any trouble. Why should someone be penalized for driving while intoxicated?

Because this is a mistake — one that has serious consequences. A person who is intoxicated can cause an accident that seriously harms or even kills someone.

When a person kills someone due to being under the influence, this is called DUI manslaughter.

Sometimes a person is convicted of DUI manslaughter more than once. Under current Florida law, a person convicted of DUI manslaughter can get no more than a 15-year sentence, no matter how many times they do it.

This could change soon. A new bill is asking for harsher sentences for those convicted of deadly DUI crashes in Florida. The Senate unanimously approved the bill, known as “Trenton’s Law,” which could double this penalty and increase it to 30 years.

The bill was named after Trenton Stewart, one of the 363 people killed by drunk drivers in Florida in 2023. The 18-year-old was a football player at Stetson University. He died after he was hit by a drunk driver going in the wrong direction in Jacksonville.

The man convicted in Trenton’s case had already been convicted of DUI manslaughter. Those who continue to kill innocent people due to drunk driving should be penalized further, according to Trenton’s mother, Mandi.

“If you’ve done this more than one time in your life, it is not fair for you to only have a sentencing guideline of 15 years,” Mandi said. She says her family “has received a life sentence” due to the man’s actions. She’s hoping this bill will prevent other families from dealing with the same thing and will provide a “more just guideline in place to help protect our communities.”

The law has not been passed yet. The House needs to approve changes made in the Senate before it heads to the governor. If approved, the law is expected to go into effect October 1, 2025.

Trenton’s Law, CS/HB 687, applies to both driving and boating. It asks for enhanced penalties for DUI and BUI manslaughter, as well as vehicular and vessel homicide, if a person has a prior conviction for those offenses. The bill also requires that a person be told that their failure to submit to a lawful test of breath or urine subsequent to a DUI arrest is either a first- or second-degree misdemeanor.

Seek Help for Your Criminal Defense Case

Causing the death of someone while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is taken seriously in Florida.

The Dade City & Zephyrhills DUI manslaughter attorneys from Madonna Law can help defend you from the charges you face. We will defend you anywhere in the State of Florida. To schedule a consultation, fill out the online form or call (800) 557-0411.

Source:

wctv.tv/2025/04/30/florida-senate-passes-bill-increasing-sentences-repeat-vehicular-homicide-offenders/