Jesse White and MADD's Innovative DUI Legislation

[Larry]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
August 24, 2007 Dave Druker: 312-814-1506Henry Haupt: 217-782-5984

Jesse White and MADD's Innovative DUI Legislation Signed Into
LawLegislation that cracks down on drunk drivers was signed into law
today by Governor Rod Blagojevich. The new law is the result of joint
efforts among Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Secretary of State
Jesse White, and the legislation's sponsors: Senator John Cullerton (D-
Chicago) and Representative Robert Molaro (D-Chicago). The law
requires all first-time DUI offenders who wish to obtain driving
relief during the period of statutory summary suspension to install on
their vehicles a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID).
Motorists are required to blow into the BAIID, which measures their
blood alcohol content levels. The device is designed to prevent DUI
offenders from driving after having consumed alcohol. "This is a new
and innovative approach to deal with a very serious traffic safety
issue," said Secretary White. "Statistics show breath alcohol ignition
interlock devices are very effective in preventing subsequent DUI
offenses. As Secretary of State, my office will continue to do
everything within its power to make the roads of Illinois as safe as
possible."New Mexico implemented a similar law nearly two years ago
and experienced in the first year a 12 percent reduction in alcohol
related-fatalities. Moreover, studies show BAIIDs are effective in
reducing subsequent offenses by up to 90 percent while on the vehicle.
"This is one of the most important pieces of DUI legislation passed in
Illinois in several years because ignition interlocks stop vehicles
from being driven by those who are drunk," said Glynn Birch, national
president of MADD. "Illinois continues to raise the bar for other
states. MADD applauds the state of Illinois for protecting its
motorists from the dangers of drunk driving."The law also increases
the length of the statutory summary suspension from three months to
six months for those offenders that failed the breath alcohol test at
time of arrest and from six months to 12 months for those offenders
that refused the breath alcohol test at time of arrest.In addition,
the law eliminates Judicial Driving Permits (JDPs) for first-time DUI
offenders, and instead requires those offenders who wish to drive to
install the BAIID before driving relief is granted. DUI offenders will
be monitored during the entire time the BAIID is installed in their
vehicles.DUI offenders who cause death, great bodily harm, are under
age 18 or have a prior conviction of reckless homicide are ineligible
for driving relief. "I would like to commend MADD for this
initiative," said White. "They are working to enact similar
legislation throughout the country in an effort to prevent the
senseless tragedies caused by drunk driving."The law goes into effect
January 1, 2009.