RSSRhode Island Judge William Guglietta Imposed Lifetime Driving Ban on 17 Year Old Boy to Send Message About Reckless Driving
Talk about the punishment not fitting the crime …
A Rode Isand judge, William Guglietta, revoked Lyle Topa’s license for life to send a message for reckless driving. The sentencing was in connection with the car crash that took place on October 23, 2011 in Charlestown, RI. The accident involved injuries to three other Chariho High School students.
Judge William Guglietta revoked Lyle Topa’s license for the rest of his life on Tuesday in connection with the Oct. 23 crash in Charlestown. Topa and three other Chariho High School students were injured when their car crashed into a tree. One passenger was in a coma for weeks.
Guglietta said Thursday that Rhode Island’s roads are “littered with broken dreams and broken futures’’ and it’s time for authorities to get serious about dangerous driving.
Judge William Guglietta said the following regarding the harsh penalty for the teen. What about if you are going to drive dangerously as an adult? Is there supposed to be two sets of rules for teens and adults? This hardly seems appropriate.
“If you’re going to drive dangerously in Rhode Island and you’re a young person, this court is going to respond accordingly,” Chief Magistrate William Guglietta from the Rhode Island Traffic Tribunal said.
I am all for harsh penalties to crimes but this is a bit over the top. The attorney for 17 year old Lyle Topa stated a similar comment about the extremeness of the sentencing and may be improper. I am not sure how banning one’s driver license for life sends the the proper message for a teen. This when drunk drivers continuously get their license back after repeated offenses. What about vehicular manslaughter?
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8 Responses to “Rhode Island Judge William Guglietta Imposed Lifetime Driving Ban on 17 Year Old Boy to Send Message About Reckless Driving”
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Making this one stick is not likely. How much better it would have been to make the young man take the state highway patrol driving course and pass it.
Many seventeen year olds today are not mature enough to be given a license to drive. How about taking the course and withholding a drivers license until age 21.
SM is correct when you talk about the carnage created by drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.
This is the punishment that should be served to illegal aliens who drive without a license and either maim or kill someone while driving, not a teenager who makes a dumb mistake.
[...] Scared Monkeys: Rhode Island Judge William Guglietta Imposed Lifetime Driving Ban on 17 Year Old Boy to Send Message About Reckless Driving [...]
I also agree that young teenagers are not mature enough to drive. They could of all died along with other innocent people. No car keys until they are older but not a sentence on a lifetime without a license to drive. Punishment definitely yes, lengthy suspension and some really tough driving courses. Show videos and photos of those that have been killed or severely wounded.
And get those repeat offenders of alcohol and drugs that have been arrested OFF THE ROADS and keep them that way.
Get over yourself judge… it’s prick’s like you that give the judicial branch a bad name… Why don’t you go after the DUI cases that get 3rd, 4th, and 5th chances….
really you are wrong i seen many adults from mass i can’t stand who drive like a jerk in nh and they all above the age. the age is not the factor the factor is how you drive. i seen many adults cut people off i see speed to fast, right on your bummper…. why is it ok for a teen but no an adult.
it depands on how you drive. I like to know excatly why he ruled this way and what we don’t know. this judge has something agasint teenagers… its wrong period.
I guess Lyle won’t be taking Judge Guglietta’s daughter to Prom afterall!
this kid was lucky,yes but he is still a kid and a forever sentence is ridiculous,he hasnt even begun to live his life yet,evertone makes mistakes even judges,,,,,,