RATING THE STATES
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MARYLAND Maryland improved the state’s drunk driving law in 2011, by requiring ignition interlocks for all repeat and first-time offenders with BAC of .15 or greater. MADD urges lawmakers to act in 2014 to close the loopholes and require ignition interlocks for all offenders at a .08 BAC. With this move, Maryland could see a significant decline in DUI related deaths. MASSACHUSETTS Melanie’s Law went into effect in 2006 and requires ignition interlocks for all repeat convicted drunk drivers. When this law is expanded to include first-time convicted drunk drivers at a .08 BAC or greater Massachusetts will see a decline in drunk driving fatalities. MADD calls on Massachusetts lawmakers to close this loophole to require mandatory ignition interlocks for all offenders and to adopt no-refusal activities. MICHIGAN Michigan is a two-star state with a lot of work to do to reduce drunk driving fatalities. Action by lawmakers in 2013 extended the .08 BAC per se limit until 2018. MADD calls on Michigan lawmakers to make .08 BAC permanent and to enact legislation requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Michigan would also benefit from high-visibility law enforcement activities. MINNESOTA Minnesota lawmakers have the opportunity to make the state’s roads safer and save lives. Minnesota must strengthen the current drunk driving law to require ignition interlocks for all convicted offenders with a BAC of .08 or greater, and allow for sobriety checkpoints. MADD encourages lawmakers to act accordingly to protect the residents of Minnesota from drunk drivers. An all-offender ignition interlock law and sobriety checkpoints will give law enforcement the tools needed to cut drunk driving fatalities. MISSISSIPPI Mississippi lawmakers were successful in passing a child endangerment law in 2013. However, they failed to improve the state’s DUI law. Efforts fell short, creating loopholes where DUI offenders could have a drunk driving arrest taken off their record. MADD is hopeful that in 2014, lawmakers will take corrective measures to close these loopholes and require the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.
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