With the bare minimum number of votes required, the House of Representatives on Feb. 25 voted 82-51 to establish highway memorial sign program for drunken driving victims. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would also prohibit unofficial memorial markers.
The Missouri Department of Transportation would administer the program. Families would have to pay $1,040 for the markers, which would appear on both sides of the road where a DWI death took place for 10 years, with renewal allowed for another fee. The signs would read: "Drunk Driving Victim!" and be followed by the person's initials and the phrase "Who's Next?"
Supporters say the markers would help deter drunken driving and eliminate potentially hazardous homemade roadside memorials. Opponents say the signs would have no impact on drunken driving and give travelers a negative impression of Missouri.
Showing posts with label DWI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DWI. Show all posts
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Ignition Interlock Bill Heard
On Tuesday the House Transportation committee heard HB1423. Here's the bill summary:
This bill specifies that anyone who has had his or her driving license and privilege suspended due to an alcohol-related traffic offense will be deemed to have not fulfilled the suspension and a restricted driving privilege will not be issued until the person has completed 30 days of a suspension and has filed proof with the Director of the Department of Revenue that his or her motor vehicle is equipped with a functioning, certified ignition interlock device as a required condition of the person's restricted driving privilege. If the person fails to maintain the proof, the restricted driving privilege will be terminated or his or her license suspended, or both.
These laws, when drafted properly, can dramatically decrease the number of drunk driver related accidents. It works by having devices installed in a car that prevents the ignition from starting if traces of alcohol are found on the driver's breath.
Dr Richard Roth (pictured above) flew in from New Mexico as an expert witness. He has dedicated many of the last years to studying the issue and has helped New Mexico gain national attention by helping to draft legislation that has reduced the number of drunk driving accidents. Dr. Roth has a very impressive resume that includes receiving a Ph.D in physics from Princeton University, working with James Cronin and Val Fitch on Nobel Prize (1980) winning experiments in Elementary Particle Physics, and is a member of the New Mexico Governor’s DWI Leadership Team.
On top of all these great things Dr. Roth also was raised in the 67th District and attended Holy Family Grade School in his younger days. For more information on HB1457 or Dr. Roth's work please click the following links:
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