Tough Drunken Driving Provisions Dropped From Highway Bill

[cal04]

Lawmakers negotiating a new long-term highway bill have dropped a Senate-passed provision that would have penalized states that don't enact tough laws against high-risk drunken drivers. The decision to reject the Senate language came as House and Senate negotiators neared a compromise on a $286.5 billion bill to fund highway, transit and safety programs in the 2004-09 period.

Aides said the bill, which would replace an act that expired almost two years ago, could be completed on Wednesday, and the House could take it up as early as Wednesday. "I'm profoundly disappointed," said Wendy J. Hamilton, national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. High-risk drunken drivers "are the ones who really need to be taken off the road with tough sanctions," she said, because "they are far more likely to kill."

The Senate provision, sponsored by Sens. Frank Lautenberg, D-N.J., and Mike DeWine, R-Ohio, would have defined three categories of high-risk drunken drivers: repeat offenders convicted of a second drunken driving offense within seven years; those with a blood alcohol content (BAC) of .15 percent or higher; and those convicted of driving on a suspended license as a result of a DUI/DWI.

It would have included a 45-day hard suspension of driving privileges, with either 10 days of incarceration or 100 days of electronic monitoring. A 45-day vehicle impoundment would be followed by installation of an alcohol ignition interlock device for the remainder of a one-year period. States that don't enact similar legislation would be required to shift a portion of their federal highway construction money into safety programs.

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBDBF3TMBE.html

[napi21]

1. I'm not sure I agree with everything in that bill either.

I agree with the repeat offenders, and those convicted of driving on a suspended license, but I don't know about the .15 part.

I admit, I was caught for a DUI 18 years ago and had a BAC of .19.

I received a 90 day license suspension, mandatory DUI school, a fine and had to maintain special insurance for 2 years.

I NEVER drove after even having ONE beer after that!

There was no accident involved, and although I admit there could have been, in my case nobody was harmed by me.

That's the way it sould be.

But to mandate 10 days incarceration, on a first offense, is a bit of a streach I think.

[longship]

2. Sounds like a states rights issue to me.

I'm not comfortable with that kind of provision in a federal highway bill. That's the same bullshit that gave the country years of 55 mph speed limits which were totally unnecessary and unenforceable.

[niallmac]

3. drunk drivers killing families on the highways are not the problem...

it's those evil doers who can't pass a pee test. Get your kids indoors!....do I really need the sarc sign?

[cosmik debris]

4. So, is drunk driving more prevalent in Dems or Pukes?

I dunno, just askin.

[VPStoltz]

6. Bush is the only president (it hurts to say that)

who was called more than once on DUI. That's probably why the House dropped the amendment - out of respect for Bush's illustrious past.

[pansypoo53219]

5. i am not opposed to the death penalty

if a drunkdriver is caught the 3rd time.
hell. 2nd time is good enough for me.

[ret5hd]

7. here's to hoping you don't have rebellious kids (grandkids, etc)...

:toast: :toast: :toast:

i was one. i only got one dui...but i should have had a hundred. luckily i never hurt anyone...and luck was all it was.

and you know what? i ended up ok. not just ok like yeah, i hold a job, kinda, sometimes, and my kids don't try to murder me while i sleep. no, not like that. really ok. 20 yrs next month at the same job. married to a teacher...happily so. taxpayer. homeowner. help my parents and mother-in-law, and get along great with all of them. etc.

so, pansypoo...if we ever become what you desire, and your kids etc end up in the electric chair, look me up. i'll be one of those standing outside the prison with a protest banner. not because i know or like your loved one...but because it's wrong.