Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced its “2013 Legislative Champions” and recognized Senate President John Cullerton and Senator Kwame Raoul for their leadership within the Illinois Senate to stop drunk driving.
“MADD thanks Senate President Cullerton and Senator Roaul for their efforts to improve Illinois’ ignition interlock law. MADD appreciates their tireless work and commitment to advancing MADD’s mission in Illinois by promoting effective DUI countermeasures like ignition interlocks for convicted drunk drivers,” said MADD National President Jan Withers.
In 2013, Senate President John Cullerton and Senator Kwame Raoul worked on SB 924 improving the current all-offender ignition interlock law. One aspect of the proposal would better incentivize the use of ignition interlocks for first-time offenders by mandating a 12-month waiting period with no driving privileges for offenders who elect not to enter the six month interlock program.
“Once again, I’m proud to stand with MADD to save lives. I’d like to thank them for being strong allies over the years and commend them on their legislative agenda which will make our roads safer,” said Senate President Cullerton.
In 2007, Senate President Cullerton authored legislation making Illinois one of the first states to enact a law to highly incentivize the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Under current law, a first-time offender must go on an ignition interlock for six months in order to drive during a license suspension period following a DUI conviction. Today, 20 states require or highly incentivize the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers.
A major portion of MADD’s advocacy efforts across the Nation originates from the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® that was launched in 2006. An interlock is more effective than license suspension alone, as 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license. Ignition interlocks are effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses by 67 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For more information on ignition interlocks, please visit madd.org/interlock.
