WHAT: Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) will join with victim survivors and law enforcement partners to urge the Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Senator Ricardo Lara, to pass SB 1046 to stop the completely preventable drunk driving tragedies in California. The Senate Public Safety Committee unanimously passed SB 1046 on March 29.
WHEN: Monday, May 23 9:30 a.m.
WHERE: Outside of Capitol, L Street (North) side
WHO: MADD, law enforcement and legislators
Carol Leister of Castro Valley, California, whose son Scott Leister was killed on the Bay Bridge by a drunk driver
Angel Martinez, whose sister-in-law, Esperanza Morales Rodriguez, and 14-month-old niece, Yulida Perez-Morales, were killed in Livermore by a suspected repeat drunk driver
California Association of Highway Patrolmen (CAHP)
Senator Jerry Hill, author of SB 1046
WHY: In 2014, 882 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in California. California lawmakers have the opportunity to pass a lifesaving law that would require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers, which have reduced drunk driving deaths by up to 50 percent in other states.
In California, ignition interlocks have stopped more than 1 million attempts to drink and drive. Of those, more than 124,000 were drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or more, the legal threshold for impaired driving in all 50 states. More potential drunk drivers would be stopped — and more lives would be saved — if California expanded its interlock requirement statewide.
VISUALS:
- The demolished car that Carol Leister’s son, Scott, was in when he was killed by a drunk driver
- In-car demonstration of an ignition interlock
FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT: Becky Iannotta (202) 600-2032 or becky.iannotta@madd.org.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® will end this danger on America’s roads. Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.
