SB 1046 Would Require Ignition Interlocks for All Offenders
SACRAMENTO (June 1, 2016) — Yesterday, the California Senate unanimously approved SB 1046 by Senator Jerry Hill, which would require ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders in California.
Currently, ignition interlocks are required in only four California counties as part of a pilot program: Alameda, Los Angeles, Tulare and Sacramento.
MADD applauds Senator Hill for authoring SB 1046 and the Senate for passing the bill and sending it to the Assembly for consideration.
“MADD is grateful to the Senate for moving this life-saving bill forward, ” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “In the coming weeks, MADD will be visiting Assembly members and calling on them to quickly pass SB 1046 to protect residents and visitors from this 100 percent preventable crime. ”
In February, MADD released its first-ever Ignition Interlock Report, which shows how many times the devices have prevented attempts to drive drunk in every state. In California, ignition interlocks have prevented more than 1 million attempts to drink and drive. About 125,000 of those attempts involved drivers with a. 08 blood alcohol concentration — the legal definition of alcohol impairment in all 50 states.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD changed American culture by introducing the “designated driver” in 1986 and related red ribbon awareness campaign Tie One On For Safety® now in its 30th year. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® is marking its 10th anniversary and reducing drunk driving fatalities by 25 percent since its launch. MADD supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, providing a service every four minutes through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Power of Parents® and Power of Youth® programs reduce underage drinking. Learn more by visiting madd.org or calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
