Ignition Interlock’s For All DUI Offenders

J.T. GriffinVP for Public Policy

Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving

Four Pronged Approach1. Support for High-Visibility Law

Enforcement2. Require ALL convicted DUI offenders to

use an ignition interlock device3. Support for advanced technology which

one day will prohibit impaired drivers from operating their vehicles

4. Grassroots support

11 States in Campaign Compliance

• Alaska• Arizona• Arkansas• Colorado*• Hawaii• Illinois*

• Louisiana • Nebraska• New Mexico• Utah• Washington

*highly incentivized

Why does MADD support IID’s for DUI offenders?

• Hard core drinking drivers (.15 BAC or higher) have drawn extra attention as policymakers try to renew progress against alcohol-impaired driving. But the hard-core group isn’t the whole DWI problem, or event its biggest part, so it doesn’t make sense to focus too narrowly on this group.--Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Status Report 9/7/2006

• New Mexico fatalities are down 35 percent since adoption of a 2005 all convicted DUI offender law. Injuries have been reduced by 41 percent.

• NFL star Donte Stallworth hits and kills Mario Reyes and pleads guilty to DUI Manslaughter. He has a BAC of .126.

• Anaheim Angels Pitcher Nick Adenhart killed by a Andrew Gallo, arepeat drunk driver whose BAC was nearly 3 times the legal limit. An interlock on the offender’s car would have prevented this death.

Traffic Fatalities 1998-2007

05,000

10,00015,00020,00025,00030,00035,00040,00045,000

1998 2000 2002 2004 2006

Total FatalitiesAlcohol Impaired

Virginia Case Study

• Virginia currently has requirement for interlocks for high BAC offenders

• HB 2041 introduced by Del. Sal Iaquinto• Passed the House by a vote of 97-7• Went to the Senate where the bill died

What Happened

• Took a traditional approach to bill passage• Walking the halls, some grassroots• Senate Committee “Just was not into the

bill”• Reasons: Too Harsh a sentence, Too

embarrassing, Public Humiliation is not good public policy, Judicial discretion

Case Study Arkansas

• Again took traditional approach• Solid sponsors: Rep. Steve Harrelson,

setup his own blog on the bill and Rep. Eddie Hawkins

• MADD worked hard to include ignition interlocks as part of its media strategy

• Local TV station did a 3 part DUI series• MADD and bill sponsors worked with the

state DMV and State Prosecutors (TSRP)

Arkansas

• Arkansas bill was administrative, meaning it would be administered by DMV

• Decision to have two bills. • 1. First time offenders 2. Repeat Offenders• Interlock Providers were helpful in putting

together a technology press conference and explaining how the technology works

• Explained the costs of DUI to the state

Arkansas’ Year of HWY Safety

• The bill passed, becoming MADD’s 10th

state to require, or attempt to require, IID’s for all convicted DUI offenders

• Goes into effect on July 31• Arkansas also passed Primary Belt Law,

Graduated Drivers License, Social Host

MADD’s Legislative Year• Going into 2009, 8 states required interlocks for

all convicted DUI offenders• 6 states required for High BAC• 28 states introduced legislation to require for all

convicted offenders• Currently 11 states will require interlocks for all

offenders• US House of Representatives just announced a

sanction for states that don’t have interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders for the next highway bill

Thank you

www.madd.orgjt.griffin@madd.org