RATING THE STATES To measure the success of the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® , MADD rates every state on laws that expand the use of ignition interlocks by drunk driving offenders and support law enforcement efforts to stop drunk driving and protect the public. The five rating categories are:
• CHILD ENDANGERMENT • ALCOHOL TEST REFUSALS
• IGNITION INTERLOCKS • SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS • ADMINISTRATIVE LICENSE REVOCATION
Ignition Interlocks
MADD believes every drunk driver should use an ignition interlock for at least six months, starting with the first offense. The only option for driving after a drunk driving offense is with the device installed. The in-car breathalyzers prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) exceeds the preset limit.
MADD awards a half star to states with “all-offender” ignition interlock laws. To receive a full star, all-offender states must have “compliance-based removal” of ignition interlocks — meaning attempts to drive drunk while using the device will result in additional time until no failures are recorded. • 30 states and the District of Columbia require ignition interlocks after the first offense • 20 states and DC have compliance-based removal as part of their lifesaving interlock laws
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Note: In previous ratings, MADD gave credit to states that would have any penalty for circumvention attempts or other statutory penalties for non-compliance with an interlock order. However, MADD believes for a compliance-based removal law to work, an interlock user must prove compliance with the interlock device, meaning during the last three months while on the device there should be no recordable violations (trying to start the vehicle with a BAC of .08 or greater). These compliance-based removal laws help change behavior and reduce drunk driving recidivism. Additionally, nine of the 20 states without an all-offender ignition interlock law have qualifying compliance-based removal laws. However, MADD does not give these states credit in the report because these states do not have an all-offender interlock law.
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