Efforts to Toughen DUI Laws Struck Down

Over the last year, MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Driving) has gotten behind bill SB 564/HB 743 in Maryland which would have required ignition interlock devices to be installed in the car of even first time DUI offenders.  The bill, dubbed the Drunk Driving Elimination Act, was supported not only by MADD, but also by other civic and community groups such as Maryland MVA, and the Impaired Driving Coalition.

Despite a fair amount of support by these and other groups, and many months working with the Maryland House Judiciary Committee Chairman to hammer out a bill that would be acceptable to all interested parties, the bill was not even voted on in committee.  Apparently the gulf between what MADD felt was acceptable and what the Chairman felt was excessive was not able to be breached, and the bill was killed in the house committee after being unanimously accepted by the senate.  Many point to the fact that the Chairman is a defense attorney as being a strong reason for the stonewalling and eventual failure of the bill.