SACRAMENTO, Calif.,
Sept. 28, 2016
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The nation's leading ignition
interlock manufacturers today praised California Governor Edmund G. Brown, Jr. for signing into law
legislation (SB 1046) that establishes a statewide ignition
interlock device (IID) program to prevent drunk drivers from
re-offending.
The new law extends the current IID pilot program in
Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare counties for two more years, and then
enhances and expands the program statewide beginning January 1, 2019.
The Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers (CIIM) lauded
the Governor for approving the measure that will protect the public
by encouraging DUI offenders to participate in a supervised IID
program immediately after their driver's license is suspended that
gives them unrestricted driving privileges.
"This new law is a positive step forward to help slow the
revolving door of unlicensed, uninsured drunk drivers who continue
driving at the public's peril," said David
Kelly, Executive Director of CIIM.
Each day, an estimated 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk
drivers continue to drive on suspended licenses. Each year in
California alone, drunk driving
crashes kill nearly 1,000 people and seriously injure 20,000 more
each year in California.
A report issued by MADD this year found that ignition interlock
devices have stopped more than 1 million drinking-and-driving
attempts since 2010 in the four counties participating in
California's current pilot
program.
"Imagine how many more drunk drivers will be kept off
California's roadways, and how
many deaths and injuries will be prevented when this law goes into
effect in 2019," Kelly said.
A California Department of Motor Vehicles report issued in
June 2016 found that IIDs are 70
percent more effective than license suspension in preventing repeat
DUI offenses.
"The unanimous approval of this law is a clear sign of the
growing recognition that this proven-effective technology is the
safest, most effective way to stop a drunk driver from becoming a
repeat offender," Kelly said. "It is also a testament to the
superb leadership of the bill sponsor, Senator Jerry Hill, and the relentless efforts of MADD,
especially Mary and Tom
Klotzbach."
Twenty-eight other states and the District of Columbia require ignition
interlocks for all DUI offenders. Recent studies have found
that:
- DUI deaths decreased by 15 percent in states that enacted
all-offender interlock laws (University of
Pennsylvania School of Medicine)
- Ignition interlock devices are effective in reducing recidivism
among DWI offenders, sometimes by as much as 62 to 75 percent.
(National Transportation Safety Board)
- The re-arrest rates for alcohol-impaired driving decreased by a
median of 67 percent relative to comparison groups. (U.S.
Centers for Disease Control and Injury Prevention)
The Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers (CIIM) is the
voice of the ignition interlock device industry on the national and
state levels to advance policies and legislation that lead to
efficient and effective implementation of ignition interlock
programs that increase installation and use rates.
Follow CIIM on:
Twitter: @interlocks_CIIM
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CIIMsafety/
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/california-governor-brown-signs-ignition-interlock-bill-praised-for-positive-step-forward-to-curb-drunk-driving-300336253.html
SOURCE Coalition of Ignition Interlock Manufacturers