Hooray for State Sen. Tracey Eide for getting the bill into law against handheld cell phone and texting while driving. So why didn’t she work as hard passing a stronger drunken driving bill that has been before our Senate several times?

The drunken driving laws in this state are so weak. A person can commit this crime seven times, over a ten-year period, before he/she is convicted. Because of this law, a person accused of drunken driving in the past has rear-ended a stalled car, killing two beautiful young men just starting out in life, and injuring their best friend.

I often see stories like this in the papers, all too often, and wonder, would these people like Derek King and Nicholas Hodgins still be with their families today, and attending a graduation they were looking forward to? The person who caused this horrible turn of events had DUIs before, but got off with a wrist slap. So why are our elected leaders in Olympia so quick to pass this cell phone bill, but turn their backs on what is really killing our citizens — drunken driving? I would sure like to see stronger emphasis put on drunken drivers in this state.

No, I do not talk on my cell phone, nor do I text while driving. I do not drink and drive. I’m not perfect, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out how a person can be distracted, even with another person in the car.

Pat Gee, Federal Way