Mothers Against Drunk Drivers Applauds Tennessee on the Passage of Lifesaving Legislation
Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed into law lifesaving legislation that will require all convicted drunk drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater to use ignition interlocks on their vehicles to prevent future offenses. With the passage of this law, Tennessee becomes the 18th state to pass such legislation and, the total number of people now protected from repeat drunk driving offenders increases to greater than 112 million.
The new law requires an in-vehicle camera with the installation of every ignition interlock device. This advanced technology will snap a photograph each time the breathalyzer is activated. The camera will discourage violators from blowing for a drunk driver, which will further support efforts to eliminate drunk driving in Tennessee. Both Representative Tony Shipley and Senator Mae Beavers championed the legislation that received unanimous votes of support in both the House and the Senate.
“As legislators, the effort to improve public safety should be our highest priority. I am proud to have successfully led the effort to gain passage of the Ignition Interlock Law through the General Assembly and want to thank MADD for their tireless efforts on this important issue,” said Representative Shipley. “I want to express my appreciation to Senator Mae Beavers for her work in the Senate, to my cosponsors in the House and to Governor Haslam. This is only one part of our comprehensive approach to in creating safer roads across Tennessee. So long as there is one life lost or one family devastated by this preventable problem, we will continue our work to make drinking and driving a thing of the past,” Shipley continued.
Beginning July 1, 2013, when the new law goes into effect, first time drunk driving offenders will be required to use an interlock device for a period of six months as a condition of a restricted license. The use of ignition interlocks for all offenders has proven to be effective in reducing recidivism by nearly two-thirds.
“This is a great day for the people of Tennessee and for our nation as we move closer to our goal to pass legislation requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted offenders at .08 BAC or greater in every state,” said Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National President Jan Withers.
“The use of ignition interlocks is a big step forward in our goal to end drunk driving on Tennessee’s roads. Our residents are safer today because of this lifesaving legislation. These devices have the power to save lives and help offenders at the same time,” said Kendell Poole, Tennessee Governor’s Representative and Chairman of the Governor’s Highway Safety Administration. “Convicted drunk drivers who have an interlock can keep their jobs, keep going to school, and at the same time, keep the public safe.”
Studies show that a first-time convicted drunk driver is not a first-time offender, but rather it is simply the first time they have been caught. In fact, first-time offenders have driven drunk an average of 80 times before they are convicted.
The passage of ignition interlock laws is a key element of MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® which was launched in 2006. The other two tenets of the Campaign are high visibility enforcement carried out by our heroes in law enforcement who keep the roads safe and development of advanced technology, DADSS or Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety to stop a drunk driver from starting a vehicle.
“We have a moral obligation as a society to do all we can do to stamp out drunk driving. I am so proud to have worked on this legislation from beginning to end. We did the right thing for all Tennesseans,” said Representative Jeremy Faison of Cosby.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® will end this danger on America’s roads. PowerTalk 21® is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents™ to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
