MADD Delivers Nearly 7,000 Petitions to Governor Paterson Urging Ignition Interlocks For All Convicted DWI Offenders

ALBANY, N.Y., May 11, 2009 Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) New York delivered nearly 7,000 petitions to Governor Paterson's office today showing support for MADD's Campaign to Eliminate to Drunk Driving.

A key part of MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving includes legislation pending in the New York State legislature that would expand the state's ignition interlock program to include first time convicted DWI offenders. The bill, Senate Bill 27B and Assembly Bill 7196A would require an ignition interlock for first time offenders during the license revocation periods following a DWI conviction. Research shows that first-time offenders arrested for drunk driving have driven drunk more than 87 times before their first arrest.

"New York needs Assembly Bill 7196A and Senate Bill 27B to move forward in the legislative process," says Michele Fonda, of MADD New York. "We know this technology works for first time convicted drunk drivers, and now we need to implement these advances on our roads. Too many drunk driving offenders are back on the road, and it is our duty to ensure that they only drive sober and do not risk the lives of others."

An alcohol ignition interlock is a breath test device linked to a vehicle's ignition system. Interlocks are used as a condition of probation for drunk driving offenders after their driver's licenses have been reinstated. When a driver wishes to start his or her vehicle, he or she must first blow into the device. The vehicle will not start unless the driver's alcohol level is below a pre-set BAC. Multiple studies on interlocks for both first-time and repeat offenders show that Interlocks reduce repeat drunk driving offenses by an average of 64 percent.(1)