DUI bills heard in House make saving lives first priority

Goodman wants alcohol-detecting devices in cars soon after offending

January 31, 2008

OLYMPIA – DUI legislation heard today in the House would stop drunken drivers before they get on the streets and cause avoidable injuries and deaths.  State Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland) believes the state can do much more than just punish those who drive drunk.

“It’s time to start focusing on ways to prevent deaths caused by drunken driving,” Goodman said.  “Proposals like mine, that will keep drunken drivers from repeating their offense, we know will save lives.”

Current law suspends the licenses of DUI offenders, but the vast majority of them drive without a license anyway, around 75 percent.

Goodman’s ignition interlock device proposal, HB 3254, would create a provisional license for drunken drivers who get an alcohol-detecting device installed in their vehicle.  This would allow them to drive legally, but with the knowledge that if they have any alcohol in their system, their car will go nowhere.

“We can lock up drunken drivers, but only for a while,” Goodman said.  “We know 20 percent of our traffic fatalities involve drivers with suspended licenses, and 47 percent involve alcohol—the state’s approach on drunken driving isn’t working.”

“I want to see offenders locked up, but more importantly, I want to keep families from getting that knock on the door in the middle of the night—we know the numbers, and we also know we can prevent these tragedies.” 

Goodman’s bill also shortens the time between a drunken driving offense and the time they have to challenge the charge, from 30 days down to 20.

The bill was heard in the House Judiciary Committee and now awaits an executive session when it could be voted out of committee.

A bill to set up drunken driving checkpoints was also heard today.  It also aims to prevent deaths, but seeks to do so through officer verification of drivers in their cars.   Prime-sponsored by Rep. Pat Lantz (D-Gig Harbor), the checkpoint bill (HB 2771) authorizes law enforcement agencies to set up targeted checkpoints to detect people driving under the influence.

Goodman believes the checkpoint bill is the right discussion to have, but realizes there are people raising questions about its constitutionality.

“What’s important is that we know these checkpoints can save lives, keep families together,” Goodman said.  “We need to find the proper balance between protecting a citizen’s individual rights and employing proven measures to save lives on our roadways.”