Governor Inslee signs alcohol Samaritan bill
May 6, 2013, 6:41 AM | Updated: 10:05 am
People under 21 no longer have to fear being cited for being a Minor in Possession of alcohol if they call 911 to get help for a friend who’s had too much to drink.
Washington is now the 12th state to adopt the alcohol Samaritan law. It prevents the police from citing or city attorneys from prosecuting minors who have been drinking when they call 911 to get help for friend. State Rep. Marko Liias of Edmonds pushed the legislation. “We want young people to know when they call 911 the only thing that’s going to come is help,” he told a house committee earlier this year.
Liias testified he’s heard stories of kids who decided against calling for help because they feared losing scholarships or college acceptance if they had an MIP on their records.
“I think we’ve all heard the stories of folks being dropped off at the emergency room unceremoniously because their friends didn’t want to get in trouble and even worse things happening,” he said. “We’re trying to send a message: don’t compound one mistake by making it far, far worse. Call 911. Get the help when you need it.”
Bill and Lisa Hummel were also quite active in pushing this legislation. Their 18-year-old son Kenny died last fall of alcohol poisoning at Washington State University. His blood alcohol level was 0.4.
The Hummels were with Governor Inslee when he signed the bill into law. “I very much appreciate the courageous work of Lisa and Bill Hummel in getting this bill to my desk,” the governor said at last week’s signing. “The tragic death of their son Kenny moved them to seek this important legislation to offer protection to those who seek vitally important medical assistance.”
This law mirrors the drug overdose law passed by the Washington legislature in 2010. It prevents drug prosecutions when people call 911 to get help for their friends.
