Winsome Earle-Sears on Crime

Don't make release of hunting dogs on highway a misdemeanor

Analysis by "News on the Neck", Feb 21, 2024: Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears' first tie-breaking vote this session was on SB 712, in opposition to the bill, which had 20 votes on going each way. Hound hunting has become a contentious issue in Virginia. Year after year bills are presented that hound hunters believe are steps toward trying to completely rid them of hunting with dogs. Some opponents are pushing for such a ban. Opponents commonly argue that hunting dogs trample their personal property rights because Virginia now allows hunters to go onto another person's property without permission to retrieve a dog.

Legislative Outcome: Failed Senate 20-20-0 on Feb/12/24, with Lt. Gov. voting NO on a tie breaking vote.

Don't reduce failure to appear in court to civil violation

Analysis by "News on the Neck", Feb 21, 2024: Senators were equally divided on SB 643, a bill the eliminated the failure to appear as a criminal offense for felonies and misdemeanors and made it a civil violation. Its sponsor, Sen. Lashrecse Aird, explained it creates a definition of non-appearance where an individual is detained in other state or federal jurisdictions. And when a person didn’t appear, the bill would require a show cause hearing to determine if the absence was willful or not, before a person could be deemed in violation of failure to appear.

Legislative Outcome: Failed Senate 20-20-0 on Feb/13/24, with a tie-breaking NO vote by Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.