Rhode 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?