Tougher Drunk Driver Press Release

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RAPTAKIS REDOUBLING EFFORTS TO PUSH FOR TOUGHER DRUNK DRIVING LAWS

State Senator calls on the General Assembly to take action to target repeat drunk drivers

              (COVENTRY 12/02/08) Last week, the National Transportation Safety Board issued a statement ranking Rhode Island as one of the three worst states in terms of failing to curb drunk driving.  The designation comes as no surprise to State Senator Lou Raptakis (D-33) who earlier this year saw the Senate overwhelmingly pass his bill to make it a felony for anyone to operate a motor vehicle when their license has been suspended, revoked or cancelled for driving under the influence or refusing to submit to a chemical test.  The measure eventually died in the House Judiciary Committee, which has been the fate of a number of tough anti-drunk driving measures over the last several years.

Raptakis said the NTSB findings should be a wake-up call for Rhode Island legislators, who are not doing enough to go after “hard-core drunk drivers”, especially when 50% of the state’s accident deaths on the road are the result of alcohol-related crashes.  In addition to re-introducing that bill and several other measures aimed at strengthening Rhode Island’s drunk driving laws, Raptakis is calling on House leaders to take action and improve the state’s abysmal record of enabling drunk driving.

“The fact that the House Judiciary Committee has become the graveyard of drunk driving bills is a major concern,” said Raptakis.  “The Rhode Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling for leadership on the issue and it is time for House leaders to send a clear message to their constituents that they are willing to act in the best interest of Rhode Islanders by cracking down on drunk driving.”

Of the 11 recommendations NTSB has developed for states to reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities, Rhode Island has implemented only 2.  Michigan and Montana are the only states in the union with such a poor record of implementing those recommendations, which were issued in 2000.

Raptakis will be introducing three other measures designed to crack down on drunk driving in Rhode Island.  These would:

·        require the license plates of a vehicle to be confiscated and impounded for up to 90 days if the owner was arrested for driving on a suspended license resulting from an operating under the influence charge or refusing a breathe test;

·        extend the so-called “look back” period for violations of driving under the influence from 5 years to 10 years, the amount of time recommended by the NTSB; and

·        increase the penalties for those convicted of driving under the influence, resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

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