Public Safety
Representative Harry Crawford has always fought to keep our homes and neighborhoods safe. In the Alaska State House, Harry introduced legislation to prevent repeat DUI offenders from buying alcohol and supported tougher sentences for sexual predators and child molesters.
Harry’s House Bill 14 required anyone convicted of DUI to receive special marks on their driver’s license so that places selling or distributing alcohol know that they are prohibited from consuming alcohol under the terms of their probation or parole. This special distinction is removed once the convicted DUI offender satisfied the terms of his or her parole.
“We are working to keep Alaskan families safe from drunk drivers. This law will prevent carnage caused by drunk drivers by stopping repeat offenders from buying alcohol.” - Rep. Harry Crawford
The Alaska House of Representatives unanimously approved Harry’s bill and the Senate added it to an omnibus crime bill that was signed by Gov. Palin in 2008.
This bill was extremely personal for Harry, whose wife was struck by a drunken driver on Christmas Eve in 2004. Gwen was walking home with their son from church when she was hit by a man driving with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level that was four times the legal 0.08 percent legal limit under Alaska DUI law. The man later agreed to a five-year prison term as part of the plea deal. Gwen had to undergo seven surgeries after the drunken driving accident.
