Life-Saving Drunk Driving Bill Receives Support in Senate

From Mothers Against Drunk Driving:

BOSTON (June 2, 2016) — Today, the state Senate revived a life-saving drunk driving bill, giving new hope that Massachusetts will soon require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

SB 1895, authored by Senator James Timilty, received a favorable recommendation for passage by the Senate and will now be considered by the Ways and Means Committee. On the Senate floor, Minority Leader Bruce Tarr encouraged continued support for SB 1895.

“My hope is that by referral to the Senate Committee on Ways and Means, we will have an opportunity to prepare this for consideration by the full Senate in an expeditious way. This tool has proven effective in keeping the roads safe for all of us,” said Tarr.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) applauds the Senate for moving SB 1895, which had not yet moved out of the Joint Committee on Transportation. The bill must pass through the Senate and the House before the end of July.

“MADD is grateful to the Senate for recognizing the importance of passing SB 1895 this year,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “We don’t have another year to start saving lives. Massachusetts residents deserve to be protected from people who make the reckless decision to drink and drive.”

SB 1895 would require all drunk driving offenders to use an ignition interlock if they seek driving privileges during a license suspension period. Currently, Massachusetts requires ignition interlocks for repeat offenders and makes hardship licenses available during the suspension period.

Twenty-six states have similar laws, including New York, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine and Maryland. Vermont will soon become the 27th state.

According to a recent MADD report, ignition interlocks have prevented drunk drivers from starting their vehicles 37,983 times since Massachusetts began requiring the devices for repeat offenders in 2006. Across the nation, ignition interlocks have prevented more than 1.7 million attempts to drive with an illegal blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD changed American culture by introducing the “designated driver” in 1986 and related red ribbon awareness campaign Tie One On For Safety® now in its 30th year. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® is marking its 10th anniversary and reducing drunk driving fatalities by 25 percent since its launch. MADD supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, providing a service every four minutes through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Power of Parents® and Power of Youth® programs reduce underage drinking. Learn more by visiting madd.org or calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.