Washington House Democrats

A newspaper editor in Maryland created a buzz last month when he published an ad in his paper offering a free coffin to the first drunken driver to kill himself or herself this holiday season.

It’s a prize he hopes he doesn’t have to award, but he’s prepared to do so because despite all the “don’t drink-and-drive” messages out there, he says people are just not listening.

The holidays are, of course, a time for social gatherings. Family and friends come together to share in the spirit – and often spirits – of the season. But tragically, the holidays are also a time when some people put themselves and others at risk by driving under the influence of alcohol. One too many spiked eggnogs is all it takes for a partygoer to become an impaired driver.

Sadly, drunken driving is a problem that is not just confined to the weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year. In the United States, there is on average an alcohol-related traffic fatality every 31 minutes. That’s nearly 50 people a day – men, women and children – killed by drunken driving.

This is a serious safety and public health issue. In 2005 (the most recent year available), 39 percent of all traffic fatalities in Washington involved a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.08 or higher (0.08 is the legal blood-alcohol limit). We rank right about in the middle of all states in terms of drunken-driving deaths.

But we can do better – much better. As a parent, grandparent, community member and legislator, I want to see our statistics improve even more and our roads made even safer – not just during the holidays but also year-round.

When the 2008 legislative session begins in January, we will be considering two significant DUI-related bills that will give our law enforcement agencies the tools to keep even more drunken drivers off the roads. Passage of these bills would save lives and decrease the number of DUI-related accidents in Washington.

The first would create a sobriety checkpoint program in our state. A targeted checkpoint program would both detect and deter those driving under the influence of alcohol. Washington is one of only 11 states that does not have such a program in place already, yet studies have shown that sobriety checkpoints are indeed effective in reducing crashes, injuries and deaths.

There are those who have expressed concern that such a program may be unconstitutional. As a strong supporter of individual civil liberties, I am certainly sensitive to these concerns, but I believe that when appropriately administered and with the right privacy protections built in, a sobriety checkpoint program can pass constitutional muster and effectively reduce alcohol-related crashes in our state.

The second bill we will consider relates to the licensing of persons caught driving under the influence. It would allow a person whose license has been suspended for a DUI to obtain an ignition interlock license. This would enable him or her to legally drive upon proof of installation of an ignition interlock device. Such a device prevents a vehicle from being driven until the driver breathes into it and his or her blood-alcohol concentration registers below a certain amount.

It is important to note that not everyone would qualify for this device. Those who have had their license suspended for refusing to take a blood-alcohol concentration test, and those who have been convicted of an alcohol-related vehicular homicide or vehicular assault would not be able to get one. Also, anyone who has had his or her commercial driver’s license suspended would not qualify.

In late November, the House Judiciary Committee held hearings on these two bills, and they were extremely encouraging. Two members of Kitsap Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and a Gig Harbor police officer took part in the proceedings. Their testimony was very helpful and will help in perfecting the bills as we head into session.

Meanwhile, as we make the rounds of social gatherings and other events this season, we must each take responsibility for our safety and the safety of others. Please remember to enjoy your holiday beverages responsibly.

Although no newspapers in our area are offering free coffins to those who die while driving drunk, the 2008 Legislature will hopefully offer up something even better: fewer alcohol-impaired drivers on Washington’s roads.

State Rep. Pat Lantz, D-Gig Harbor, chairs the House Judiciary Committee.