Tougher Penalties for First Time DUI’s Sought

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WOLO) — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) testified today in front of the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Subcommittee in support of legislation which would require all convicted drunk drivers to ‘blow before they go‘ by using an ignition interlock on their vehicle. They believe legislation, S 746, authored by Senator Joel Lourie, would help save lives and stop drunk driving. South Carolina currently requires ignition interlocks for repeat convicted drunk drivers. Throughout the U.S., 15 states now require ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk drivers. H 4294 authored by House Judiciary Chairman, James Harrison, is a companion bill to S 746. Studies show that a first-time convicted drunk driver is not a first-time offender; rather, it is simply the first time they have been caught. First-time offenders have driven drunk an average of 80 times before they are convicted. And according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), ignition interlocks, on average, reduce drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent. South Carolina DMV officials voiced concerns about the wording of the proposed bill. They plan to meet with MADD to make adjustments, hoping to move the legislation from a senate subcommittee to the full senate. Stay with ABC Columbia News on this developing story.