Lawmaker pushes tougher penalty for negligent vehicular homicide

<p align="justify">Rep. Bill Black, R-Danville, is urging the state to create harsher penalties for drivers who negligently kill someone.

<p align="justify">Black presented House Bill 4738 to the House Judiciary Criminal Law Committee Thursday. The legislation would make negligent vehicular homicide a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail.

<p align="justify">The committee unanimously passed the legislation.

<p align="justify">Black said he sponsored the legislation because of the 2006 death of Matthew Wilhelm. The 25-year-old Peorian was riding a bicycle near Urbana when he was struck by a driver who was downloading ring tones on her cell phone.

<p align="justify">Matthew's father, Chuck Wilhelm, appeared before the distracted driving task force almost two months ago and proposed that the state create this type of law and expand the rights of victims of distracted drivers.

<p align="justify">State Journal-Register