In November 2006, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) launched a new
campaign to eliminate drunk driving within the next 10 years. Part of their goal
is for all states to require mandatory ignition interlock devices, which have
been shown to be up to 90 percent effective in keeping repeat drunk drivers off
the roads.
Before a driver with a prior DUI can start a car with this device, they must blow into a device that measures their blood alcohol level. If alcohol is detected, the car will not start.
Currently, only four states require this device for all first-time offenders—New Mexico, Arizona, Louisiana and Illinois. MADD says 4,000 lives would be saved every year if they were required in every state. To learn more about MADD's campaign to eliminate drunk driving, visit MADD.org.
What does Jennifer think of the idea? "I think that's great for the repeat offenders, but I think that for drunk driving to be curbed that it needs to hurt if you were to get caught drunk driving," she says. "So I think that for even the lesser or the first-time offender ... it should be the fine with the license, with the community service, with going to a class."
Ultimately, Jennifer believes
people need to know that all actions have repercussions. "Actions have
consequences and I think everyone needs to know that and recognize it, and it
doesn't make us bad people for not wanting to live in a world of chaos," she
says. "If you're going to commit the crime, you're going to get in trouble and
it should be that way. We should all want that."
