Published Saturday, November 29, 2008

MADD plans push for even tougher DUI laws in Georgia

Editorial

If you traveled by vehicle this Thanksgiving weekend, you probably noticed traffic enforcement officers did not take the weekend off. They were out in numbers working diligently to make our roadways safe for holiday traffic.

With the arrival of the holiday season, law enforcement agencies again are stepping up patrols. They are particularly cracking down on drunk drivers.

Morris News Service in Atlanta reported late last week there has been a drop in drunk-driving deaths in the past two years in our state. That drop is primarily attributed to increased crackdown by law enforcement and stiffer drunk driving laws in our state that mandate tougher penalties for drunk driving.

The Morris News report also talked to Mothers Against Drunk Driving officials who say they will be lobbying for even tougher DUI laws in our state when the General Assembly convenes in Atlanta in January.

MADD will push for lawmakers to require DUI offenders to have ignition interlock devices -- an electronic gadget that keeps a car from starting unless the driver's breath is alcohol-free -- installed on their vehicles after their first DUI conviction.

Judges currently can require two-time DUI offenders to use the ignition interlocks.

The Morris News report pointed out New Mexico was the first state to enact the ignition interlocks law to first-time offenders. MADD says since New Mexico took that step alcohol-related traffic fatalities have declined 20 percent in the state.

While Georgia's alcohol-related deaths have declined, that decline was 3 percent -- a small amount compared to a decline of 20 percent.

We think it would be wise for our lawmakers to listen to MADD when it makes its pitch for interlock devices in the upcoming legislative session.