JACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- A new bill during this legislative session puts tougher penalties on adults who allow underage drinking at house parties.
A bill passed makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to allow underage drinking on the second offense. It remains a second-degree misdemeanor for the first offense. Jail time for a second-degree misdemeanor is a maximum of 60 days. For a first-degree misdemeanor, it goes up to a year in jail. Fines increase from $500 for the lesser offense to $1,000 maximum for a first-degree misdemeanor.
The law was approved overwhelmingly.
One of the reasons lawmakers pushed for it was a deadly crash that killed two teens in St. Johns County.
Taylor Brennan and Jessy Pitt were just teenagers when they were killed in a crash on State Road 13 in 2009. Their car was burned beyond recognition and police found drugs and alcohol in both their systems.
Police say they got those drugs and alcohol from Diane Santarelli. They say she was known for hosting parties and allowing underage drinking.
Taylor's good friend Brittany Sullivan still fights back tears talking about it. "She was my best friend," said Sullivan.
Santarelli was found guilty on charges of contributing to the delinquency of minors and hosting an open house party.
Now state lawmakers are cracking down even more on adults who think it's ok to give minors alcohol.
"We want to send the message that if they have parties where kids are drinking under age, they're going to be held responsible," said State Senator Tony Hill.
Under a new bill just passed, an adult can face a misdemeanor charge for hosting a party that results in serious injury or death.
Taylor's friend says she's all for the tougher laws.
"They should be held responsible for whatever does happen. They should go to jail for it. Don't get what Miss Santarelli got. I don't believe what she got was justice. If it wasn't for her, she'd still be alive," said Sullivan.
Santarelli was charged with manslaughter in the teen's death, but a jury found her not guilty on that charge. Last year she was sentenced to 364 days in jail.
