State Legislators Recognized for Efforts to Advance MADD’s Mission
09/22/2016
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WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 22, 2016) — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) today announces its “2016 Legislators of the Year” to recognize standout legislators who share MADD’s mission of eliminating the 100 percent preventable crime of drunk driving.
“MADD is proud to work with these leaders in the battle against the leading killer on our nation’s roadways,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “With more than 10,000 drunk driving deaths every year in America, we must continue to push for smart laws that will help us create a nation of No More Victims.”
The Legislators of the Year played a major role in MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving, now in its 10th year. Many of them authored laws that require ignition interlocks for all offenders or strengthen existing laws. Prior to the Campaign’s launch in 2006, only one state — New Mexico — had an all-offender interlock law. Today, 28 states and Washington D.C. have passed all-offender interlock laws.
2016 highlights in the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving:
- Maryland, Vermont and Rhode Island passed laws requiring ignition interlock use by any offender who seeks driving privileges during license suspension periods, bringing the number of states with all-offender laws to 28.
- Washington D.C. also passed an all-offender ignition interlock law.
- Tennessee and Mississippi passed laws to strengthen their all-offender ignition interlock laws and improve statewide reporting of DUI.
- Georgia passed a law making ignition interlocks optional for first offenders and refusals.
- Pennsylvania passed a law requiring ignition interlocks for all first-time drunk drivers with an illegal blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .10 or greater.
- California passed a law extending its four-county all-offender pilot program until January 2019, after which ignition interlocks will be incentivized for first offenders statewide.
Other key legislation passed this year includes a child endangerment law in Connecticut that that adds penalties for driving impaired with a child passenger. In other states, new and tougher penalties were established for repeat offenders and for offenders who cause death or injuries, victims’ protections and services were expanded, and DUI reporting was streamlined.
In all, MADD is recognizing 69 lawmakers for their tireless work and commitment to saving lives. For more information on their accomplishments, please visit: www.madd.org/blog. and passing
2016 MADD Legislators of the Year
California
Senator Jerry Hill
Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez
Colorado
Representative Rhonda Fields
Representative Polly Lawrence
Senator John Cooke
Senator Mike Johnston
Connecticut
Representative Al Adinolfi
Representative Joe Aresimowicz
Representative Christie Carpino
Senator Eric Coleman
Senator Leonard Fasano
Representative Mary Fritz
Representative Stephen Harding
Senator Tony Hwang
Senator John Kissel
Representative Themis Klarides
Senator Martin Looney
Representative Rosa Rebimbas
Representative Richard Smith
Representative William Tong
Washington, DC
Councilmember Mary Cheh
Florida
Senator David Simmons
Representative Scott Plakon
Representative Robert Cortes
Representative Katie Edwards
Georgia
Representative Tom Rice
Lieutenant Governor Casey Cagle
Indiana
Representative Timothy Wesco
Maryland
Delegate Ben Kramer
Senator Jamie Raskin
Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo
Massachusetts
Senator James Timilty
Michigan
Representative Klint Kesto
Senator Tonya Schuitmaker
Mississippi
Representative Patricia Willis
Representative Andy Gipson
Senator David Parker
Senator Sean Tindell
Representative Kevin Horan
Missouri
Representative Caleb Jones
New York
Senator George Amedore
Assemblywoman Aravella Simotas
Assemblyman John McDonald III
Assemblyman Dean Murray
Assemblyman David McDonough
Ohio
Representative Gary Scherer
Pennsylvania
Senator John Rafferty
Representative Keith Greiner
Rhode Island
Senator Stephen Archambault
Representative Gregg Amore
South Carolina
Representative Eddie Tallon
Senator Larry Martin
Tennessee
Senator John Stevens
Representative William Lamberth
Senator Randy McNally
Representative Mark White
Senator Mark Norris
Representative G.A. Hardaway
Representative Joe Pitts
Senator Kerry Roberts
Senator Doug Overbey
Representative Dale Carr
Vermont
Representative Willem Jewett
Wisconsin
Representative André Jacque
Senator Roger Roth
Senator Alberta Darling
Representative Jim Ott
Senator Van Wanggaard
Senator Chris Larson
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD helped to change American culture when it started popularizing the concept of the “designated driver” in 1986 through its related red ribbon awareness campaign Tie One On For Safety® now in its 30th year. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® is marking its 10th anniversary and reducing drunk driving fatalities by 25 percent since its launch. MADD supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, providing a service every four minutes through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Power of Parents® and Power of Youth® programs reduce underage drinking. Learn more by visiting madd.org or calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
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