| 
  • If you are citizen of an European Union member nation, you may not use this service unless you are at least 16 years old.

  • You already know Dokkio is an AI-powered assistant to organize & manage your digital files & messages. Very soon, Dokkio will support Outlook as well as One Drive. Check it out today!

View
 

09-05-2003

Page history last edited by PBworks 17 years, 6 months ago

September 5, 2003

ROMNEY LAUNCHES NEW CRACK DOWN ON REPEAT DRUNK DRIVERS

Orders Registry of Motor Vehicles to begin use of ignition interlock system

 

Governor Mitt Romney today stepped up efforts to make Bay State roads safer by filing legislation to crack down on repeat drunk drivers. He also directed the Registry of Motor Vehicles (RMV) to require the installation of interlocking ignition devices on all vehicles driven by repeat drunk drivers using a conditional license.

 

“Massachusetts will not tolerate drunk drivers,” Romney said. “These commonsense measures will keep drunk drivers off our roads and ensure that our roads are as safe as possible for the motorists of the Commonwealth.”

 

Romney said that federal law requires all states to put in place minimum one-year driver’s license suspension for repeat drunk drivers, to require the installation of an ignition interlock system on all vehicles registered to repeat offenders and to mandate drug and alcohol assessments for repeat drunk drivers. Without these measures on the books by October 1, 2003, $7 million in federal highway funds will be automatically transferred from the state’s road and bridge program to the state’s Highway Safety Bureau.

 

“I want Massachusetts to have the discretion to spend this money as we see fit, not as Washington mandates,” said Romney. “Since fiscal year 2001, $15 million has been directed away from the job of updating our aging roads and bridges at a time when we could have used the money.”

 

State law currently allows for a one-year license suspension for second time drunk driver offenders. However, after only six months, individuals may apply to the RMV for the reinstatement of their license. Romney’s legislation will increase the suspension period, requiring an 18-month license suspension and allowing second time offenders to petition for a hardship license after one year.

 

Romney noted that 43 other states require interlocking device systems for repeat drunk drivers and that it is long overdue for Massachusetts to put it in place. He said that if a repeat offender is granted a hardship license exemption and allowed to drive a car prior to the completion of a suspended sentence, that driver will have to take a breathalyzer test before the car will start. If the driver is intoxicated, the car will not start.

 

Repeat offenders – not taxpayers – will pay the estimated $75 installation charge for the interlocking device and the $50 monthly maintenance fee.

 

“My drunk driving message is extremely simple: you booze, you cruise, you lose,” said Romney. “This legislation and the introduction of the ignition interlocking devices will go a long way to prevent repeat drunk drivers from driving drunk again.”

 

To meet the federal requirement, Romney’s legislation requires mandatory drug and alcohol assessments for repeat drunk drivers by which each offender will undergo a mandatory course of treatment. This process will be a requirement for any drunk driving related parole or probation.

 

Although the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Massachusetts has decreased from 407 in 1982 to 234 in 2001, the percentage of total traffic deaths in Massachusetts attributable to alcohol at 49 percent is higher than the national average of 41 percent. Enhancement of tough drunk driving laws will enable Massachusetts to achieve the far more important accomplishment of reducing the number of alcohol-related fatalities.

 

Earlier this year, Romney signed the “per se” law, stipulating that if a motorist is detected having a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08 percent or higher, then that alone of proof of driving under the influence. Before the new measure, Massachusetts law left open the question as to whether or not an individual who has a BAC of .08 or higher is truly intoxicated. In a court of law, .08 percent BAC was previously considered evidence of intoxication, but not irrefutable proof.

 

 

 

###

Comments (0)

You don't have permission to comment on this page.