Sen. Wendy Davis named 2013 Legislative Champion by MADD

AUSTIN —Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced its “2013 Legislative Champions” and recognized Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth) and Representative Bill Callegari (R-Houston) their leadership within the Texas Legislature to stop drunk driving.

“MADD thanks Senator Davis and Representative Callegari for authoring legislation reforming the DWI law in Texas. MADD appreciates their tireless work and commitment to advance MADD’s mission in Texas by promoting effective DWI countermeasures,” said MADD National President Jan Withers.

In 2013, Senator Wendy Davis authored SB 1418 legalizing the option of sobriety checkpoints. And, Representative Bill Callegari authored HB 260 expanding the use of ignition interlocks to more first-time convicted drunk drivers. Both proposals provided an opportunity for Texas to reduce drunk driving deaths and protect the public.

“MADD applauds Senator Davis for authoring legislation to give law enforcement officers additional tools to enforce our DWI law. She is a true partner in efforts to keep our streets and highways safe.” said MADD North Texas Affiliate Executive Director Jeff Miracle.

“This award belongs to every Texan who has spoken out and done their part to keep our communities safe,” said Senator Wendy Davis. “More work must be done to support our first responders and law enforcement officers to stop drunk driving.”

Texas currently leads the nation with 1,213 people being killed in crashes caused by a drunk driver in 2011. Currently, 38 states give law enforcement the option to conduct well publicized sobriety checkpoints. Due to sobriety checkpoints, states have seen reductions in drunk driving deaths by over 20 percent.

A major portion of MADD’s advocacy efforts in states originates from the Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® that was launched in 2006. A key component of the Campaign calls for enacting legislation like HB 260 to expand the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers and, SB 1418 to legalize the option of sobriety checkpoints.

Prior to the Campaign, only one state, New Mexico, required ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Today, 20 states require or highly incentivize the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. Texas currently requires ignition interlocks for all repeat and first-time offenders with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 or greater as a condition of probation. In other states, as a result of all offender interlock laws similar to HB 260 drunk driving deaths have dropped by over 33 percent.

Representative Callegari is a leader in our community that has truly made a positive difference in people’s lives and most importantly saved lives. We sincerely appreciate his and his staff’s hard work and dedication both here in our local area and in his work in Austin. His leadership on ignition interlocks will serve as foundation for moving forward for years to come,” said MADD Southeast Affiliate Executive Director John McNamee.

“We lost a very close friend and his fiancé to a drunk driver, and I have vowed to do whatever I can to prevent such tragedies. I worry whenever any of my eleven grandchildren are on the road, and pray that efforts by MADD and other organizations will help to keep our streets safe for all citizens. I encourage you to support legislation such as mandatory ignition interlocks in an effort to keep dangerous drivers from getting behind the steering wheel. Additionally, I implore the various organizations to work together to resolve any differences and not allow minor disagreements to derail legislation that can save lives,” said Representative Bill Callegari.

An interlock is more effective than license suspension alone, as 50 to 75 percent of convicted drunk drivers continue to drive on a suspended license. Ignition interlocks are effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses by 67 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

For more information on ignition interlocks, please visit www.madd.org/interlock. For more information on sobriety checkpoints, please visit: http://www.madd.org/laws/sobriety-checkpoints.html.