MADD SC Legislative Updates

Mothers Against Drunk Driving supports providing tools, resources and training to law enforcement to allow them to stop drunk driving and prevent underage drinking.  MADD is committed to the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving that includes interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers’ vehicles and increased enforcement such as checkpoints and patrols to deter drunk driving.  Unfortunately, South Carolina will need to work on closing many loopholes in its law to help stop drunk driving and equip enforcement officers with the legislative backing needed to secure drunk driving arrests, including:  higher penalties needed for breath test refusal, and recognition of .08 per se law.

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GOVERNOR SANFORD SIGNS DUI REFORM BILL
TUESDAY, APRIL 15TH, 2008




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Thursday, January 31st, 2008

     MADD leaders and volunteers showed up "in force" for the SC Senate Committee Hearing on DUI Bill #3496.
 

   
Kershaw CAS Leader Tonya Spradley speaks with Richland CAS Leader Jessica McNeil, Spartanburg CAS Leader Anne Sellars and husband Eddie in front row

     
MADD SC volunteers and leaders talk after hearing, DUI Crash Victim Mike Finlay with news reporter, and Anne and Eddie, speaking with an AP Reporter        

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FRIDAY, JUNE 15TH, 2007

On Friday, June 15, 2007 Governor Mark Sanford signed the Prevention of Underage Drinking and Access to Alcohol Act (S. 213) into law.  This was a great step in the right direction for South Carolina (SC) in helping to prevent underage drinking.  SC traditionally has been far behind other states in its underage drinking legislation and in having a promising DUI Law.  We are making strides in a positive way in our state and I foresee more steps to help us stop drunk driving and prevent underage drinking.

When teens worked with law enforcement doing compliance checks the officers could not charge those who sold alcohol or tobacco to the minors without charging the minors as well.   This new law will allow law enforcement officers to charge those who sell alcohol to minors without having to charge the minors who work with them on compliance checks.  Also, the new law enacted the use of keg registration.  This will help track kegs found in possession of minors back to those over 21 who provided the alcohol.  To view the bill which includes these two major changes to our current law, along with other penalties can be found at scstatehouse.net (search 213). 

An additional amendment was made to the legislation which enacted the mandatory use of ignition interlock devices for 2^nd and subsequent DUI offenders.  This truly is a step in the right direction for SC since we now tie for 1^st place with Minnesota for drunk driving crashes and fatalities!  Ignition interlock devices stop people from being able to start their vehicles, thus making it impossible for them to drive impaired!  MADD knows that when using ignition interlock devices, the rate of those driving drunk goes down dramatically, thus saving countless lives. 

MADD SC support H. 3496, the new DUI bill this past legislative session.  The new bill will makes some significant changes to our currently challenging DUI law removing many loopholes that make it difficult for law enforcement to make DUI arrests.  There also are increased penalties for driving impaired written into the legislation.  The bill passed the House in 2007 and will be introduced into the Senate in January 2008.  Attached to our web site you will find a copy of a petition that supports the DUI bill.  You may print a copy of this form and have your family and friends sign it to show your support for necessary changes to our DUI law.  Or you can email your information to us at sc.state@madd.org so that we can add you to our petition to help show Senators from around SC that residents of our state truly want to make positive changes to our current DUI law to help save hundreds from drunk driving crashes annually.  We need your petitions back to the MADD SC State Office by mid-December so that we can have them to present to Senators prior to the start of the 2008 legislative session.  Please feel free to contact the MADD SC State Office with any questions or comments you may have about our legislative efforts.

Your support and dedication to helping MADD save lives truly is appreciated and necessary.   We encourage and need your financial support for MADD SC as well.  Please go to the fundraising page on our website to make a contribution to MADD SC. 

Thank you!

                                                                                  GOVERNOR SANFORD BILL SIGNING

                                                                                                  JUNE 15TH, 2007

 Senator Joel Lourie addresses the crowd gathered at the State House to                 Governor Mark Sanford signs the PUDAAA bill, marking a great moment for
 witness the Governor signing the Prevention of Underage Drinking and Access         South Carolina.  The bill enacts the use of keg registration and ignition 
 to Alcohol Act (PUDAAA) into law.                                                                        interlock devices in the State.

                
   MADD SC State Executive Director, Jami Goldman, talks about the laudable                 SC Department of Safety Director, James Schweitzer takes                  
   steps South Carolina is taking by enacting this bill which helps to prevent                      the podium to reiterate the need to save lives, prevent underage
   underage drinking and save lives by requiring mandatory use of ignition interlock             drinking and support legislation to get DUI offenders off the streets.
   devices for 2nd and subsequent DUI offenders.