Governor Patrick Morrisey signed House Bill 4712, known as “Baylea’s Law,” on May 8 during a ceremony in Charleston. The law increases criminal penalties for individuals convicted of driving under the influence causing death. The legislation is named after Baylea Craig Bower, a 25-year-old woman from Boone County who was killed by an impaired driver on Easter morning in 2023.
The law addresses concerns about accountability for drivers who cause fatal accidents while impaired. It introduces the offense of Aggravated DUI Resulting in Death, which carries a mandatory prison sentence of five to thirty years for those found guilty of operating a vehicle under the influence with deliberate disregard for human life. Convicted individuals are not eligible for home confinement or participation in the youthful offender program.
“West Virginia will no longer allow those who drive while impaired to escape the full weight of justice,” Governor Morrisey said at the signing ceremony. “Baylea’s Law gives our legal system the teeth to demand absolute accountability for the most heartbreaking crimes. Today, our laws stand firmly on the side of victims and their families.”
The new law also mandates fines ranging from $2,000 to $10,000 and enacts lifetime revocation of an offender’s driver’s license. These changes are part of broader efforts by Governor Morrisey’s administration to improve road safety across West Virginia.
Recent related measures include Senate Bill 692 and House Bill 4538, which were signed last month. These bills authorized green flashing lights on Division of Highways vehicles and increased penalties for speeding and distracted driving in active work zones.
Jim Justice has also been involved in initiatives related to youth programs and constituent engagement through his office, economic growth as governor, service as U.S. senator from West Virginia, academic achievements at Marshall University—including captaining its golf team—and applying his lifelong experience as a resident toward his senatorial role according to the official website.