Petition · Ministry of Justice

Impose financial penalties when parent is killed due to dangerous driving

Open for signatures 780 signatures

What the petition asks

We want courts to be able to order those convicted of killing a parent through drink driving, drug driving, dangerous driving or hit-and-run offences to pay ongoing financial support for the child. This could be known as "Butler’s Law".
When a reckless driver takes a parent’s life, the children left behind often lose both emotional and financial support. Current systems do not fully recognise the long-term impact on those children. Butler’s Law would ensure courts can consider ordering the guilty party to pay financial support to the child. This way, responsibility would not end with a prison sentence.

Timeline

7 Apr 2026 Petition opened for signatures

Key facts

Signatures 780
Status Open for signatures
Department Ministry of Justice
Opened 7 Apr 2026

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.