Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday joined the bereaved families of Thomas “Lofton” Hazelwood and Lily Fairfield to sign two pieces of legislation that honor the teens’ lives and strengthen the state’s hazing and driving under the influence laws.
“These families have experienced the unimaginable, and today we not only stand with them to lift up their beautiful children – children of God who were taken far too soon – we stand with them in making changes that can help save other Kentuckians,” Beshear said.
The Governor signed Senate Bill 9, also known as Lofton’s Law, which was passed by lawmakers in response to the October 2021 hazing death of University of Kentucky freshman Lofton Hazelwood. Lofton was an 18-year-old from Henderson.
Beshear said since 2021, Lofton’s parents, Tracey and Kirk Hazelwood, have fought for legislation to help prevent this from happening to other families by increasing the penalty for hazing that results in physical harm or death to a Class D felony. Hazing that does not cause physical harm will be increased to a Class A misdemeanor.
Bill sponsor Sen. Robby Mills, of Henderson, said, “The driving force behind this legislation is standing right here – it’s Lofton’s parents, Tracey and Kirk. Our goal was to make sure that Senate Bill 9 was a deterrent for future activities. But also, to say that in Kentucky, student safety is important to our state government. Young people that go to college in Kentucky should have the ability to have a great time in college and not have the fear of hazing that has been so prevalent over the last few years.”
Signing House Bill 262, or Lily’s Law, the Governor was joined by the family of Lily Fairfield, a 16-year-old from Oldham County who died in 2021 after a driver under the influence crashed into the car her sister, Zoe, was driving on their way to school. The driver had been arrested and immediately released just 3 days prior, on a DUI charge.
The bill mandates that a person is guilty of vehicular homicide when they cause the death of another resulting from their operation of a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, a controlled substance or other impairing substance. The bill makes vehicular homicide a Class B felony.
The bill also requires that individuals who are arrested for drunken driving shall be detained for at least 6 hours following their arrest. Current statute requires that an individual who is arrested and who has a breath analysis test result of 0.15% or more alcohol concentration shall be detained for 4 hours following arrest.
“I appreciate the Governor signing this bill into law. Far too many Kentuckians have lost their lives or loved ones as a result of a car wreck involving someone driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol,” said Rep. Patrick Flannery, whose district covers Carter, Lewis and part of Boyd counties. “Over the past several years, the legislature has worked to both toughen penalties and help people get treatment. HB 262 is the next step in our efforts and will save innocent lives.”
