MADD honors “Legislative Champions”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced its “2013 Legislative Champions,” honoring state legislatures for contributions in the battle to eliminate intoxicated driving.

MADD recognized lawmakers who authored legislation promoting victim rights, drunk driving child endangerment legislation and proposals supporting high visibility law enforcement activities such as sobriety checkpoints.

MADD acknowledged 89 lawmakers for their work to end drunk driving. According to program materials, the 2013 MADD Legislative Champions are:

Alabama Representative Allen Farley (R) and Senator Bill Holtzclaw (R) implemented SB 401/HB 477, Alabama’s 2011 ignition interlock law requiring interlock devices for repeat and first-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or greater.

Arizona Representative Karen Fann (R), authored HB 2182. The measure removes the ability of a person to be placed in a continuous alcohol monitoring program in lieu of getting an ignition interlock device.

Arkansas Representative Jeremy Gillam (R) and Senator Jon Woods (R) authored HB 1694 in 2013 which allows for immediate reinstatement of driving privileges for repeat offenders providing an ignition interlock is installed in the vehicle.

Connecticut Representatives Themis Klarides (R), Gerald Fox III (D), Richard Smith (R), Al Adinolfi (R) and Senator Leonard Fasono (R) for their efforts on DUI child endangerment and ignition interlock legislation in 2013.

Colorado Representative Dave Young (D) and Senator Steve King (R) authored House Bill 1240 that was signed into law expanding the use of ignition interlocks for refusals and repeat offenders as well as lowering the super drunk DUI level from .17 to .15.

Delaware Senate Majority Leader David McBride (D), Representative Helene Keeley (D) and Representative Stephen Smyk (R) introduced HB 201 and HB 212 which would require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Florida Representative Dennis Baxley (R) and Senator Dorothy Hukill (R) authored HB 479 and SB 796 in 2013 requiring the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Georgia Senator Donzella James (D) for introducing SB 15 and SB 18 legislation requiring interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers and increasing penalties for driving drunk with a child passenger in a vehicle.  Representative Tom Rice (R) for introducing HB 671 requiring ignition interlocks for first-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or greater. 

Illinois Senator John Cullerton (D) and Senator Kwame Raoul (D) introduced SB 924 improving the current all offender ignition interlock law.

Indiana Representative Cindy Kirchhofer (R) introduced HB 1517 requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Iowa House Judiciary Chairman Chip Baltimore (R) helped pass HF 571 requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Kansas Senator Jeff King (R) and Representative John Rubin (R) for their leadership on HB 2218 which, among other provisions, made the crime of aggravated battery to include serious DUI crashes allowing offenders to be charged with a felony.

Kentucky Representative Dennis Keene (D) authored HB 286 requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Kentucky Representative Julie Raque Adams (R) authored HB 32 eliminating the option of judges granting “shock probation” for offenders convicted of killing in a DUI crash. 

Louisiana Senator Jonathan Perry (R) authored numerous pieces of DWI reform legislation improving the state’s ignition interlock law including a measure that prohibited law enforcement from being subpoenaed to a driver’s license hearing, making the hearing a paper review only. 

Maine Representative Bob Nutting (R) authored LD 1260 that made Maine the 20th state to enact an all-offender ignition interlock law.

Maryland Delegate Sam Arora (D) authored HB 32 requiring the use of ignition interlocks for DUI offenders who drive drunk with a child passenger in a vehicle.

Massachusetts Senator Robert Hedlund (R) authored SB 1666 requiring the use of ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers who drive during a license suspension.

Michigan Representative Andrea LaFontaine (R) authored HB 4093 and Michigan Representative Klint Kesto (R) authored HB 4131 that extended Michigan’s 2013 sunset clause of their .08 BAC law to 2018.

Mississippi Representative Andy Gipson (R) and Senator Chris McDaniel (R) authored HB 681 and SB 2590, which create extra penalties for DUI offenders who drive drunk with a child passenger in a vehicle. 

Missouri Representative Caleb Jones (R) helped push through SB 23 helping to implement the state’s all offender interlock law starting March 2014.

Montana Senator Sue Malek (D) attempted to introduce legislation requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. However, due to push back from judges, the legislation was not introduced.

Nebraska Senator Les Seiler (I) authored LB 158 improving on the state’s effective ignition interlock law.

New Hampshire Representative Stephen Shurtleff (D) authored HB 496 expanding the use of ignition interlocks to all convicted drunk drivers who choose to drive during a license suspension

New Jersey Senator Nicholas Scutari (D) authored legislation S 2427 which requires ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. New Jersey Representative Linda Stender (D) receives recognition for introducing companion legislation A 3835.

New Mexico Speaker W. Ken Martinez (D), Representative Liz Thomson (D), Representative Stephanie Garcia Richard (D) and Representative Tim Lewis (R) for their efforts in improving the state’s drunk driving laws.

New York Senator Chuck Fuschillo (R), Senator Martin Dilan (R), Assemblyman Harvey Weisenberg (D), Speaker Sheldon Silver (D), for their improvements of Leandra’s Law

North Carolina Representatives Johnathan Jordan (R), Darren Jackson (D), and John Faircloth (R) were primary sponsors of H 536, legislation which requires ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Senator Bill Rabon (R) authored a similar measure with S 434. Senator Jim Davis (R) and Senator Tom Apodaca (R) authored legislation in 2013, which provides for all hospitals to test for BAC and provides $500,000 in funding. 

North Dakota Representative Ed Gruchalla (D) and Senator Tim Mathern (D) authored SB 2240 that originally required ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.

Oregon Representative Jim Thompson (R) authored a slew of DUI reform bills in 2013 after heading up a 25-person DUI working group leading up to the start of session. Oregon Senator Rod Monroe (D) authored SB 94 legalizing sobriety checkpoints.

Pennsylvania Senator John Rafferty (R) authored S 1036 requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Pennsylvania Representative Anthony DeLuca (D) authored H 1810 requiring the same. 

South Carolina Senators Joel Lourie (D), Brad Hutto (D) and Larry Martin (R) all helped advance Emma’s Law (S 137) requiring ignition interlocks for all repeat and first-time offenders with a BAC of .12 or greater. MADD also recognizes the following house members for their support of Emma’s law: Representatives Eddie Tallon (R), Todd Atwater (R) and Rick Quinn (R).

Tennessee Representative Tony Shipley (R) and Senator Mae Beavers (R) authored H 353 and S 670 making Tennessee the nineteenth state to require ignition interlocks for six months for all convicted drunk drivers who obtain restricted driving privileges during a license suspension.

Texas Senator Wendy Davis (D) authored SB 1418 legalizing the option of sobriety checkpoints. Texas Representative Bill Callegari (R) authored HB 260 expanding the use of ignition interlocks.

Virginia Senator Donald McEachin (D) authored HB 279 and SB 378 requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers for a period of at least six months. 

Former Vermont Representative Margaret Cheney (I) authored H 305 in 2013 which required ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Vermont Senator Eldred French (D) carried H 768 reforming the state’s ignition interlock law by providing for compliance based removal of offenders on the device and providing penalties for circumventing the interlock order.

Washington Representative Roger Goodman (D) and Senator Mike Padden (R) for their efforts with Impaired Driving Working Group and for their leadership in advancing DUI reform SB 5912.

Wisconsin Representative Jim Ott (R) and Senator Alberta Darling (R) authored many drunk driving reform bills including legislation that helped advance victim rights by setting forth mandatory minimums in fatal and injury related OWI crashes. Wisconson Representative André Jacque (R) introduced AB 273 allowing search warrants to be issued in order to obtain a blood test for suspected OWI offenders who refuse a chemical test. Wisconson Representative Jon Richards (D) has voiced his public support for ignition interlocks and requiring these devices for all convicted drunk drivers. 

For more information about MADD, please visit www.madd.org.