Paul Wettlaufer badly misjudged the collective memory of the public and the media, in trying to get his driver’s licence back.

The Aldergrove man who ran down and killed Carley Regan, 13, more than six years ago in Langley wants his licence back, because he is tired of asking people for rides. He still does not understand the consequences of his decision to drive after drinking, and without a licence, on the day he struck down Carley and killed her. He fled the scene, and then returned in a clandestine manner to see just what he’d done. He then hid his car, before being caught and convicted.

The Regan and Quigley families feel that he has never taken responsibility for his actions, nor has he apologized to them, and to the two girls who survived his foolish and fatal operation of a motor vehicle.

Why should he get his licence back? There is no good reason.

He was sentenced by Judge William Stewart to 18 months in jail. He also lost his licence for 10 years. Given the circumstances, he got off lightly. He actually served 10 months in jail.

For several years, he has been able to go about his day-to-day business unimpeded, other than he needs to ask for rides or take transit.This is a minor inconvenience, compared to the lifelong sentence visited upon Carley’s family.

It is impossible to have any sympathy for Wettlaufer, and it’s heartwarming to know that both the media and the public have not forgotten this terrible tragedy.

It’s also good to know that the same judge is hearing his application, as Judge Stewart is thoroughly familiar with the details of this case.

While people are thinking about this subject, it is high time that they pressured the Conservative government in Ottawa to once again attempt to pass Carley’s Law. This is a bill crafted by former MP Randy White in the wake of Carley’s death. It would bring sentences of seven years to life for hit and run causing death.

This bill was stalled in Parliament in the days of the Paul Martin government, and ultimately died in a 194-94 vote in June, 2005. The Liberals, NDP and Bloc Quebecois all voted against it.

This bill deserves to be resurrected and passed, so that people like Wettlaufer serve a sentence which is more commensurate with the crime they have committed.