Massachusetts is just one of two states left in the country that doesn’t allow authorities to install breathalyzer-controlled ignition devices in the cars of first-time drunk drivers.
National Mothers Against Drunk Driving president Colleen Sheehey-Church said the state needs to pass a bill this session that would allow ignition devices for first-time offenders.
“This small device, the size of a cell phone, which is absolutely the only thing right now on the market that can stop someone that is impaired .08 and above from starting their vehicle,” Church said at State House event Wednesday.
Only Massachusetts and Idaho do not have similar laws on the books.
John Kotfila’s son, a Falmouth native, was killed by a drunk driver while working as a sheriff’s deputy in Florida.
“Massachusetts, and I constantly hear this, in the news, in the Legislature, we’re a progressive state. I hear this term constantly. Massachusetts is a progressive state. Our legislature is progressive. Our governor is progressive. This bill is a progressive bill. We will be the 49th or 50th state if we pass this bill. This bill deserves to be passed,” Kotfila said.
Rep. Tim Whelan from Brewster co-sponsored the bill and says lawmakers may have questions about the reliability of the devices and the ability of courts and the RMV to process the devices.
“Hopefully as we find that these issues have been fixed, we’ll just find that those talking points go away and we’ll identify this legislation as something for the public good, for public safety and it’s something that we can all get behind,”
The bill is not currently scheduled for a public hearing.
