Alarcon Proposes Fines to Fund Trauma Care

Citing lessons learned from a family tragedy, state Sen. Richard Alarcon said Thursday he has introduced legislation to raise about $100 million annually to stem the tide of trauma center and emergency room closures.

Alarcon, a Sun Valley Democrat, lost his 3-year-old son Richie in 1987, when he was injured in a traffic accident. Because there was no pediatric trauma center in the area of the East San Fernando Valley where the accident occurred, the boy was airlifted to Childrens Hospital Los Angeles near downtown. He died in his father’s arms a day later.

Since then, Alarcon said, the situation has worsened, with six emergency rooms closing in the last 14 months in L.A. County.

“Everyone knows that emergency services and trauma care centers are slipping away,” Alarcon said. “This is my effort to get dollars into the system and save some additional sites from going under.”

Alarcon’s bill, SB 57, would increase the penalties for some criminal offenses and traffic violations by up to $40 on a $320 fine.

Penalties would be higher for crimes that often result in injuries requiring trauma care, including domestic violence, Alarcon said. About $15 million of the $100 million raised would be earmarked for pediatric trauma care centers.

Alarcon, who is running for mayor of Los Angeles, said he did not know there was not a pediatric trauma center in the San Fernando Valley until after the accident in North Hollywood, in which a driver speeding at 97 mph plowed into a car, driven by a relative of Alarcon’s, in which his son was a passenger.

“I don’t believe anything could have saved my son,” Alarcon said. “But many other people would have a greater potential to survive if they can get to a trauma center sooner.”

Jon Coupal, president of the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn., said he wants to study the bill before taking a final position.

“Our view has always been that penalties and fines should be set at that amount that deters criminal activity,” Coupal said.

“The minute you start imposing excessive penalties and fines for revenue-raising purposes, it raises the question of whether the penalty fits the crime.”

Alarcon canceled a news conference to announce the bill after an incident at his Eastside campaign office Thursday morning.

A small sport utility vehicle loaded with weapons crashed outside Alarcon headquarters.

Los Angeles Police Officer Kristi Sandoval said the SUV apparently slammed through a metal railing, but there was no indication it was more than an accident.

The driver apparently fled, Sandoval said. Inside the 1996 red Chevy Blazer, detectives recovered a Tec-9 assault pistol, two rifles, 20 knives and one sword, LAPD Officer Ursula Guillory said.

Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.