Extreme Drunk Driving: What the Legislature Can Do to Prevent It
By: Homer Smith
Why do people drive drunk? There could be many responses but according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the answer is quite simple…because they can.” MADD has been advocating the state legislature to pass an extreme drunk driving package of bills that would toughen penalties for drunken drivers who are at the highest risk of repeating their offense. The bills mandate treatment and promote the use of ignition interlock technology - devices that require the driver to blow a breath test before his or her vehicle ignition will operate. Ignition interlocks are currently the only technology that can prevent a drinker from operating a motor vehicle.
The bills identify first time offenders who are caught with a blood alcohol content (BAC) level of .15 or higher and repeat offenders (2nd offense) as high risk offenders. These offenders are at the most risk of re-offending, being involved in an alcohol related crash, and of having an alcohol related substance abuse problem. In Michigan, there are over 21,000 repeat offenders arrested each year and over 28,000 who are arrested with a BAC level of .15 or higher.
Complicating the issue is that an estimated 80 percent of those with a suspended license disregard the sanction and drive anyway. Bills (HB 4920, 4921 and 4289) passed the state House last October by a strong margin and continue to await consideration by the Senate. Sen. Alan Cropsey, introduced another bill (SB 1134) that would use interlock devices for all offenders at the BAC level of 0.08. Nationally, MADD has pursued an agenda of interlock devices for all drunken driving convictions, mirroring the Cropsey bill.
Opposition (Michigan Licensed Beverage Association) to HB 4920 believes that the .15 BAC level is too low. However, such a high BAC is not an accident of social drinking. Leadership in the Michigan Senate should take action now that will save lives and help to change the behavior of individuals who continue to put us all at risk. Why do people drive drunk? Let’s be sure that it’s not because we haven’t done everything we can to prevent it.
Editor’s Note: Homer Smith is the MADD Executive Director for the State of Michigan.
