2018-Report to the Nation

SOUTH CAROLINA

4.5 2.

STATE SNAPSHOT

WAYS TO IMPROVE

Emma’s Law passed in 2014 after a long battle to pass first-time offender ignition interlock legislation in South Carolina. Named after 6-year-old Emma Longstreet, who was killed by a drunk driver, the new law expands the punishment for all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, with a BAC above .15.

• Enact an all-offender interlock law • Make ignition interlocks available to first-time offenders upon arrest • Enact a law making child endangerment a felony

SOUTH DAKOTA

4.5 1.

STATE SNAPSHOT

WAYS TO IMPROVE

South Dakota is one of the lowest rated states for its drunk driving laws. In 2011, a law was passed allowing for the use of ignition interlocks started in conjunction with the state’s 24/7 program. This move limits the use of interlocks to repeat and first-time offenders with a BAC of .17 or greater.

• Pass an all-offender ignition interlock law with compliance-based removal • Enact an administrative license revocation law • Make ignition interlocks available to first-time offenders upon arrest • Enact a law making child endangerment a felony • Require ignition interlocks for refusing an alcohol test

TENNESSEE

4.5 3.

STATE SNAPSHOT

WAYS TO IMPROVE

Tennessee’s all-offender ignition interlock law went into effect in 2013. This move, coupled with the use of no-refusal enforcement activities, has helped reduce drunk driving deaths by 22 percent.

• Enact an administrative license revocation law • Make ignition interlocks available to first-time offenders upon arrest • Enact a law making child endangerment a felony

TEXAS

4.5 2.

STATE SNAPSHOT

WAYS TO IMPROVE

Texas became the 25th state to pass an all-offender ignition interlock law in 2015.

• Add compliance-based removal to existing all- offender ignition interlock law • Legalize sobriety checkpoints and ensure they are conducted at least monthly • Make ignition interlocks available to first-time offenders upon arrest • Require ignition interlocks or criminalize refusing an alcohol test

26

Made with FlippingBook - Online catalogs