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MADD Joins Rep. Paul Clymer, Concerned Citizens and Some Inspiring Students to Encourage Pennsylvania House to Pass Lifesaving Legislation

Pennsylvania Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks County) supports H.B. 2019, lifesaving legislation that can reduce the number of drunk driving deaths on Pennsylvania's roadways.
    Rep. Paul Clymer
On Tuesday, October 7, 2008 MADD and Rep. Paul Clymer (R-Bucks County) held a news conference in support of lifesaving legislation that can reduce the number of drunk driving deaths on Pennsylvania's roadways. A demonstration of lifesaving ignition interlock technology followed. Read MADD's press release.

H.B. 2019 will require alcohol ignition interlocks for any convicted drunk driver in the state of Pennsylvania. The bill would ensure that Pennsylvania’s roadways are safer by preventing drunk drivers from committing the crime again, and the maintenance and installation costs related to the devices would be covered by the offender, not Pennsylvania taxpayers.
  • In Pennsylvania, 500 people were killed and countless others were injured in 2007 in crashes involving drunk drivers.
  • Research shows that alcohol ignition interlocks on the vehicles of all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, could save as many as 4,000 lives a year.
  • Interlocks are proven to reduce drinking and driving recidivism by, on average, 64 percent.

Drunk driving activists, members of MADD, politicians, and concerned citizens gathered for a lobby day in support of Pennsylvania H.B. 2019, lifesaving legislation that can reduce the number of drunk driving deaths on Pennsylvania's roadways.
(Left) Hollywood Olson addresses the crowd as Dr. Bryce Templeton, Rep. Paul Clymer and Susan Menges, whose daughter Megan was killed in a drunk driving crash, look on.  
Joining Rep. Clymer and MADD in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg were Dr. Bryce Templeton, MADD National Board of Directors, Nancy Oppedal, drunk driving victim and MADD volunteer. Also in attendance were two incredibly inspiring young people who have become advocates for drunk driving legislation – Bradley Vassallo, the 14-year-old Quakertown student who encouraged Rep. Clymer to sponsor the interlock bill and Hollywood Olson, a 12-year-old drunk driving victim survivor from Mechanicsburg.

Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime. MADD is committed to ending drunk driving permanently through the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving.

            In the News
MADD Wants Ignition Interlocks for Convicted Drunk Drivers – WHP 21
Clymer Urges Mandatory Interlock for First DUI – Philadelphia Bulletin
Pennsylvania Residents
Contact your state representatives and urge them to support HB 2019 mandating ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders and encourage the House Transportation Committee to hold a hearing on the merits of ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders. Numerous lives can be saved and injuries averted with passage of this legislation. 

Philadelphia Walks Like MADD on Saturday, October 11 
Walk Like MADD in Philadelphia to support MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving In another effort to combat drunk driving, Philadelphia will be hosting Walk Like MADD, a 5K non-competitive family walk that raises funds for Pennsylvania to support MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving. Join the Walk, make a charitable donation or become a virtual walker online at www.walklikemadd.org.

Not from Pennsylvania? Contact your own state representatives and encourage them to support legislation mandating ignition interlocks for all persons convicted of DUI.