Office of the Secretary of State: Jesse White and the National President of MADD Tout Upcoming Innovative DUI Law

FROM THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE

August 11, 2008

Secretary of State Jesse White and Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) National President Laura Dean-Mooney today joined forces to raise public awareness for a groundbreaking new DUI law set to take effect January 1, 2009.

The law requires all first-time DUI offenders who wish to obtain driving relief during the period of statutory summary suspension to install on their vehicles a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID). Motorists are required to blow into the BAIID, which measures their blood alcohol content levels. The device is designed to prevent DUI offenders from driving after having consumed alcohol.

"This is a new and innovative approach to deal with a very serious traffic safety issue," said Secretary White. "Far too many people are killed and injured each year by drunk drivers. This law uses technology to target DUI offenders in an effort to make our roads safer, while posing no inconvenience to the vast majority of Illinoisans who are safe and responsible drivers.”

Statistics show breath alcohol ignition interlock devices are very effective in preventing subsequent DUI offenses. New Mexico implemented a similar law two years ago and experienced in the first year a 12 percent reduction in alcohol related-fatalities. Moreover, studies show BAIIDs are effective in reducing subsequent offenses by up to 90 percent while on the vehicle.

“MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving includes interlocks for all offenders nationwide, upon first offense, because we know it will stop the revolving door on drunk driving,” said Dean-Mooney. “We give special thanks to the leadership of Secretary White, Senator John Cullerton, Representative Robert Molaro, and Representative John D’Amico for passing legislation that will help make the roads of Illinois safer than before.”

In 2006 in Illinois, 444 people were killed by drunk drivers. Nationally, 13,470 people were killed by drivers with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or greater. “I commend MADD and President Laura Dean-Mooney for their invaluable support on this initiative in Illinois, as well as their efforts to enact similar legislation throughout the country in an effort to prevent the senseless tragedies caused by drunk driving,” said White.

Despite the fact that the money appropriated by the General Assembly to fund implementation of the new BAIID law was cut by the governor, Secretary White reiterated his unwavering commitment to implementing this new program successfully.

“We should do everything we can to fight drunk driving and make our highways safer,” said White. “This new law will save countless lives, and you cannot put a dollar amount on that. As Secretary of State, my office will continue to do everything within its power to make the roads of Illinois as safe as possible.”

The law also increases the length of the statutory summary suspension from three months to six months for those offenders that failed the breath alcohol test at time of arrest and from six months to 12 months for those offenders that refused the breath alcohol test at time of arrest.

In addition, the law eliminates Judicial Driving Permits (JDPs) for first-time DUI offenders, and instead requires those offenders who wish to drive to install the BAIID before driving relief is granted. DUI offenders will be monitored by the Secretary of State’s Office during the entire time the BAIID is installed in their vehicles.

DUI offenders are responsible for all costs associated with the BAIID device, which includes an installation fee of approximately $100 and rental and monitoring fees of about $110 per month.

DUI offenders who cause death, great bodily harm, are under age 18 or have a prior conviction of reckless homicide are ineligible for driving relief.

The law is the result of joint efforts among MADD, Secretary White, and the legislation’s sponsors: Senator John Cullerton (D-Chicago) and Representative Robert Molaro (D-Chicago).