Public Comments

Holding people accountable for their actions is 100% necessary.

PASS Baylea’s law!

Please extend the punishment for this crime. 3-15 isn’t enough time to spend!

Please consider this new law to help keep the ones under the influence off the roads and protect our people.

Baylea was a part of our family for sometime. We are saddened by the loss of her due to a drunk driver and drugs. We hope to get this law passed in honor of Baylea Craig Bower. Love and prayers to her family and friends!💕🙏🏻 She is terribly missed.

3 years being the current minimum is sad, and does not represent the extent of the crime committed. These are actions chosen. Anyone who drinks alcohol knows the night will come to an end, but yet these people choose to risk the lives of the people around them. There are too many options in today’s world besides getting into the driver’s seat: uber, Lyft, call a friend, text a friend, etc. 3 years is not justice.

I hope this will change things.

This law needs passed for so many reasons. This could help save many lives.

I personally think this is an amazing bill that should 100% be passed. If someone can willingly get behind the wheel under the influence and that lead to the death of an individual then they should legally be held accountable for up to 30 years in prison…. The individual they caused death upon doesn’t even get the chance to live but the one who caused the incident gets slapped on the wrist with only 15 years tops right now and usually they never have to stay in there that long to begin with. It’s unfair.

I trust that our legislative system start to work and put this law in place!!!

There is no “fine, charge, or conviction” large enough for someone who knowingly gets behind the wheel while impaired. Risking the lives of other innocent people is unacceptable. A minimum of 3 years for a life taken is not justifiable. Praying this law is passed with ease.

Baylea was a friend to all. Never knew a stranger. She would’ve given the shirt off her back to anyone and always rooted for the underdog. This sweet girl was killed by a drunk driver on Easter morning while headed home to be with her family. She was only married for one month and hadn’t even gotten to start her life yet. If this bill were to be passed it could save many lives. Give this girl the justice she deserves and pass this bill to save others from the carelessness of drunk drivers.

I am 100% for this law .

Although I did not know Baylea personally , I have seen so many testimonies of the wonderful person she was. Such an amazing soul taken way too soon. I can only pray it is taken into consideration the sentencing being doubled or even a few years added to it because no amount of time could ever be enough for taking a life but it could save others if the punishment was more harsh. This woman could have grown up to be a doctor , a president or even birthed a child of her own that finds the cure to cancer but she will never get that chance now because of people choosing to drive impaired because they don’t fear the consequences that come along with it. May what happened to Baylea never be forgotten and help save and change the lives of others.

I think the punishment should be even more significant than presented here. This behavior is unacceptable. You cannot risk the lives of others for your selfish addictions.

I am sure this is not the only case that someone was not just drunk.. but absolutely plastered driving on cocaine and speeding not just 10 over but like 20+ over.. that goes beyond “accident”. I personally think there is a difference between accident and then reckless disregard for human life. I personally do not think that a DUI should have this nature should over have the punishment of 3-15 years because she had a reckless disregard for human life and that should be more treated along the lines of murder. At least give the courts the opportunity to decide to what severity the crime was and up the limit to a higher number of years. I could see a DUI not being extreme and then there is this case.. there is a difference . Let this start a standard that if you commit murder by driving drunk you don’t get out with a hand slap. Make people think twice and save lives… I should be spending holidays with my best friend and instead I can’t get into a car without being paranoid and it’s almost a year later. This trauma will run deep and I know I am not alone. Just think about it . Thank you.

I believe Baylea's life could have been so much more and she would’ve been phenomenal!! No time behind a cell can compare to the fact that a life was lost. Being a teen myself, I know better than to get behind a wheel drunk, let alone get drunk period!! Baylea deserves justice, Baylea's family and friends deserve justice, and I believe this bill passing will give the family the closure they deserve!!

What is just punishment for taking a life? There is no punishment that will ever be enough for the life of someone you love. The current punishment for taking a life by driving under the influence in WV is 3-15 years. Lawmakers, take a look at this bill and ask yourself what would you want the punishment to be if the life taken was your child? A daughter, son, mother, father? What if this was yours? Would 3 years be enough? There are no words to describe the pain of this loss. The punishment could never be enough to erase the pain but 3 years for a life is unbelievable!!! #justiceforbaylea (stated by Steve Lewis and I couldn’t agree more).

Absolutely. This would be wonderful.

I fully support this...actually think min sentence should be 15 yrs for dui causing death and fines should be x5.

What is just punishment for taking a life? There is no punishment that will ever be enough for the life of someone you love. The current punishment for taking a life by driving under the influence in WV is 3-15 years. Lawmakers, take a look at this bill and ask yourself what would you want the punishment to be if the life taken was your child? A daughter, son, mother, father? What if this was yours? Would 3 years be enough? There are no words to describe the pain of this loss. The punishment could never be enough to erase the pain but 3 years for a life is unbelievable!!! #justiceforbaylea

This is a much needed change to the current law. The lives have countless innocent people have been taken by people who chose to drive while impaired. Parents have lost children. Children have lost mothers and fathers. Baylea Craig was a beautiful soul taken from her family, friends, and  our community by the careless actions of an impaired driver. People cannot be replaced. The loss will be felt forever. Please consider taking this into account when voting yes to increase jail time and fines for impaired driving. Thank you, Amber Mooney

This bill absolutely needs passed! Too many precious lives are taken!

I lost my father at 15 years old due to a driver under the influence in Boone county. Unfortunately, the killer didn’t receive any punishment. I am now 33 years old and still struggle with the fact that there were no consequences.

I know personally about being a victim of a drunk driver. By the grace of God my family was spared.  Baylee’s family has gone through so much. Please take a stand for accountability. You owe it to the citizens of WV. You owe to Baylea and her family and friends.

I wholeheartedly support this! I have always said the fines and punishments were and are not stiff enough. The family of the victim has to suffer the rest of their lives but the person who committed the crime gets off with only 15 years! This is pure and simple pre meditated murder. You know when you drink and drive that there’s a possibility that you will wreck and kill someone. Maybe with the passing of this bill people will think twice about drinking and getting behind the wheel. I also believe the establishments that sell the alcohol to the person who causes a death should also be held accountable. This endless vicious cycle of drinking and driving has got to stop somewhere. Let it begin with Baylee’s Law  House Bill 4712.

The life of this beautiful young woman was taken way too soon. She had so much to live for, so much joy to give over the years. She was loved by so many. Her family is hurting and will miss out on her for the rest of their lives  Their pain will not end in 15 years People who make the decision drive intoxicated need to know they will get more than a slap on the wrist. They need to be held accountable. The law needs to change.

Drinking and driving is against the law. Taking someone’s life and only getting three to fifteen years is unacceptable. If you take a life, I strongly believe you deserve more than a slap on the wrist. Baylea passing, her mother and father lost their daughter, her brothers lost their  sister, her niece and nephew; they lost their aunt. This should not be taken so lightly.

If I drove intoxicated and caused a horrific accident I should be held accountable for my careless actions. I chose to drive my car despite my inability to drive.Whether it was intentional, premeditated, or just from being reckless… murder is murder. As a state we shouldn’t be giving these individuals the ability to go on living their lives to the fullest… because the victims will never get their lives back and their families/friends have to spend the rest of their lives reliving a heartbreak every gathering, holiday, or big milestone because their loved one was taken from them from someone else’s negligence.

This needs to be done to help with drunk driving

This is so needed in our society today. Saying a reckless mistake of dui can be just 3 years is insanity and wrong for the life lost. I pray this is passed.

I hope this passes!! Drunk driving is horrible!!

WV needs this, so many people are killed on our roads and thus could help prevent it!!

I feel that the sentence for DUI causing death in West Virginia should absolutely be increased as reflected by the proposed Baylea’s Law.  No amount of jail time will bring them back,  but losing your loved one should warrant the person who took their life being away for longer than three years.  Ask yourself how you would feel if you lost your daughter or sister and the individual who killed them by drunk and impaired driving sat at home for a year waiting for trial then only spent 3 short years in jail. People need to understand the true consequences of impaired driving.  It can result in the loss of your own life as well as another’s.  Please pass Baylea’s Law.

I support this bill.

In honor of Baylea, i support this law and those who drive and drink under the influence

WE NEED THIS BILL PASSED !!

I didn’t personally know this young lady but laws need to change first the better. The woman guilty if running head on into Baylee’s truck on that morning, needs to pay.  CHANGE THE LAWS……. Don’t let another family suffer a tragedy such as this

It’s obvious not enough is being done to make people more aware of they’re own personal actions.These actions they do, that cause so many people lifelong pain and suffering.A slap on the wrist and they’re back out amongst the general population while families & friends suffer tremendous loss.This law is a start in the right direction.

This law should be passed because it would impact the community in a positive way and help decrease the chance of someone getting killed by a drunk driver. Thank if it was YOUR family

A bill doubling the sentence for DUI causing death in West Virginia is long overdue, and I’m truly hoping lawmakers have the courage to pass it. Too many families have been shattered by preventable tragedies, and the current penalties don’t come close to reflecting the weight of a life lost. Strengthening the consequences isn’t about revenge, it’s about drawing a hard line that says impaired driving will not be tolerated, not in our communities and not on our roads. This bill gives West Virginia a chance to protect future families from the heartbreak so many have already endured, and I’m standing behind it, hoping it becomes a law.

I believe this should be the new law we lost my husband grandmother Donna Kay Campbell due to a man that was on drugs and drinking an killed her here in Boone county WV this law should be enforced in every county an state! Theses people getting behind the wheel impaired are taking our family members life’s and it’s not fair! Just imagine if it was your family members that was taken due to someone that chose to get behind the wheel impaired in some sort of way! PLEASE PASS THIS LAW!! Our family’s that lost someone due to impaired drivers deserve the justice for our lost family members!

I totally support doubling the time and fine for ANYONE who drives drunk or impaired and kills someone!  Should’ve been passed years ago!  Maybe these people who carelessly drive drunk and or impaired will think twice before getting behind the wheel if they know they’ll get more than a smack on the hand!!!  And our families won’t have to DIE!!!

I support Baylea’s law!

I feel this law would be important not just for the victims of drunk driving deaths. But the families.

I more than support this law change!!!!

baylea was my best friend. is my best friend. the loss of her has impacted a whole community. she always brought a smile to everyone’s face even when she was having a bad day. when destany took her away from us she blew out a candle. baylea brought light to so many places. she filled so many hearts with love. i truly believe destany deserves more than 3 years. she made the decision (we have been taught since kindergarten not to drink and drive or do drugs) to end a life. destany lester murdered a daughter, murdered a sister, murdered a friend. regardless of if she planned on doing it or not the decisions she made that day effected not just one life but hundreds. why should she only get 3-15 years when we get a life time of grief, a lifetime of sorrow, a life time of heart drops when we are reminded of what happened. 3-15 years is a punch in the gut to the victim and the victims family/ friends. there are so many crimes in west virginia without the outcome being death that get much more than 3-15 years. at the end of the day we are all taught not to drink and drive from a very young age. dui causing death is murder. no matter how you put it, or what happened. dui causing death deserves more than 3-15 years.

3 years is just too short a time for killing someone!   Please pass Baylea’s Law!!

I am for this law

Please Pass!!!!!!!

This young lady had a whole life in front of her with family and friends that cherished their times with her and no longer have that time. Senseless and shameful of the system to bring her killer to justice.

Please pass Bill HB1234 for Baylee's law

I support Baylea’s law! What if it was your loved one who list their life?

We support and want to see this law PASSED!!!

Baylea’s Law needs to be passed because the loss of a life due to DUI is not an “accident” it’s a preventable choice. Stronger penalties send a clear message that driving under the influence and taking someone’s life will be met with real accountability. Families who lose a loved one deserve justice, and harsher consequences may help deter others from making the same reckless decision. If even one life can be saved by increasing penalties, then Baylea’s Law is worth passing. My heart breaks for our friends for what they are going through with losing their beautiful daughter. No family should have to endure this kind of loss. 💙

This bill should pass! This family has been through so much!

I agree with this bill

It should 10 years minimum!

The death of Baylea Bower has deeply affected my family as I am 1st cousins with her husband. I also have a relative on the other side of my family who has been arrested for multiple DUI’s and keeps reoffending. People who drink and drive are knowingly putting many lives at risk for their decisions. Unfortunately too many people are tragically hurt or killed due to the negligence of others. This isn’t something that’s an accident, the definition of an accident is “an unfortunate incident that happens unexpectedly and unintentionally, typically resulting in damage or injury”. People who drink and drive KNOW they are impaired and still choose to drive. They know what can happen. People are let off the hook or given way less than the punishment that is deserved.

A human life does not equate a 3 year minimum victims loss their entire lives do to dumb decisions!

This bill should pass!! We need this in law!! Thank you!

I support this bill.

Please consider the bill

3 to 15 is not a long enough punishment for making poor decisions and taking another's life.

Please concider Bayleas bill the sentence right now is not nearly long enough family has a life long sentence while the offender walks free to live their life in ni time at all

Please pass Baylees bill

Please pass this bill

I am in support of a stricter law for DUI resulting in death. Driving under the influence is too common in West Virginia, and at most times, viewed as the norm.

I think changing this law to stronger sentence would make you think before driving impaired. When you know you  should not be driving under those conditions. The law definitely needs changed.

Please pass Baylea’s Law

Absolutely

Baylea and her family deserve justice and these short sentences is not justice

Please pass Baylea's law! Please make it to where people are held accountable for their actions, and they pay the maximum sentence.

People who drink do drinks and drive are choosing to do that. The person or family they may hit, didn’t have a chance to decide what happened to them. Life is so precious! If you decide to do those things and get behind a wheel, then you should have to pay for what you done!

It’s important to have sentencing that even remotely reflects the damage caused by drunk and impaired drivers. This is the first step in Justice for those who aren’t here anymore due to the actions of those breaking the law.

A life that has been taken by something that could be avoided so easily, should not have such a light punishment. If someone goes out and drinks and decides to drive when there’s so many options out there to prevent a potential wreck. People need punished and to be held responsible.

#passbayleaslaw

Driving under the influence is something so selfish that affects so many people every year. Innocent people get killed by someone who should know right from wrong. I lost a good friend, who had gotten into a car thinking they were just going to get some food and they never made it back home due to an impaired driver. The decision to get behind the wheel drunk not only affects you or the person injured. It affects families, friends and so many loved ones. I am a mom of an infant and a toddler; I still get nervous on the roads because no matter how safe you are, others decisions and driving is out of my control. This law should be passed because it will make people second guess themselves before getting behind the wheel impaired. This could save so many life and prevent so much heart ache in the future.

J

The law needs to be more strict and enforced concerning impaired driving  or any act while impaired resulting in death.

I think this should be put into law

Dear Members of the West Virginia Legislature, I am writing to express my strong support for House Bill 4712, also known as Baylea’s Law. This important legislation honors the memory of 24-year-old Baylea Bower, who tragically lost her life on Easter Sunday, April 20, 2025, in a head-on collision caused by a drunk and impaired driver on the Coalfield Expressway in Boone County. Baylea was a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short due to the reckless and preventable actions of someone who chose to drive under the influence. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastating impact that impaired driving has on families, communities, and our state as a whole. By doubling the minimum and maximum sentences for those convicted of DUI causing death, this bill sends a clear message that West Virginia will not tolerate such dangerous behavior and will hold offenders accountable to the fullest extent. Tougher penalties like those proposed in Baylea’s Law are essential for deterring potential impaired drivers and providing a measure of justice for victims and their loved ones. I urge you to pass this bill swiftly to help prevent future tragedies and ensure safer roads for all West Virginians. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, April Dawn Keenan

Please consider the importance of this bill and how it could save lives in the future.

Great!

A person lost her life for someone else’s careless decisions. When people choose to be under the influence of alcohol or any kind of inhibitor and then drive, they know the risk they are taking. And by taking these risks, they’ve taken lives. Lives that should’ve been around for many more years. 6 years isn’t even enough time to serve for the decisions that are made.

This law should be passed to make people think twice before diving impaired.

Impaired driving kills and injures thousands every year. One impaired driver can destroy multiple families in seconds. Stricter laws need to hold drivers accountable for choosing to endanger others.

I strongly encourage you to pass this bill this may prevent another life from being taken too soon

Double maximum jail time.

Pass the bill

I believe this is a good bill that will help prevent drunk driving deaths and save families the heartache of burying a loved one. Even if it just saves one person, it has done the job. Thank you for supporting this bill.

This law desperately needs passed

I worked in the hospital for three years. I’ve seen people lose their lives due to drunk drivers, and the impact that has on their families. I’ve lost family members due to drunk driving and it seems that the restrictions on impaired driving just aren’t steep enough to keep someone from getting behind the wheel, intoxicated. it happens way too frequently, and I support this law and hope that it passes so that we can save lives for a better future for our community, for our children and their families.

PASS THIS

The pain from the natural death of a loved one is so hard. The pain from the death of a loved one who was taken by the negligence of someone who is driving under the influence is indescribable. One bad decision not only can take a life, but it also destroys the life of the victim’s family and friends. If the laws were more strict, I believe people may think twice before getting behind the wheel while intoxicated.