Last month, Representative Nita Lowey introduced a bill in the House of Representatives that would push states to require the use of ignition interlock devices for a minimum of six months for all convicted drunk driving offenders. States that fail to comply would face a reduction in federal transportation funding.
The bill is called “Alisa’s Law,” in honor of MADD National President Jan Withers’ daughter, whose life was tragically cut short by a drunk driver when she was just 15.
If passed, this legislation would represent a significant milestone for MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving®. When the Campaign was launched in 2006, New Mexico was the only state to require all convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock. Today, 24 states have passed similar legislation, and California instituted a pilot program that covers over 13 million people. The most recent count shows that over 300,000 interlocks are installed in the United States.
Please click here to email your lawmaker in support of this lifesaving legislation.