Ignition interlock bill pronounced dead
House Judiciary Committee Joseph F. Vallario Jr. has just pronounced a bill that would have required an ignition interlock device on the vehicles of those convicted of drunk driving dead for the 2010 session.
Vallario convened a voting session of the committee at 8:30 p.m. and distributed a memorandum saying he had been unable to reach an agreement with the sponsor and advocates of the legislation, the No. 1 priority of MADD this year.
The legislation that passed the Senate unanimously would have affected all persons convicted of driving under the influence, which is defined as having blood alcohol of .08 percent or more. Vallario said 27 states have automatic ignition interlock requirements for drivers with BAC measurements of .15 or more.
He said he and his allies had offered to lower that level to .12 and to also include subsequent offenders and those under 21. MADD and other advocates had said they would reject such a compromise and they did.
Vallario, a Prince George's County Democrat, said he was disappointed a deal could not be reached.
Comments
As much as I do not care for Vallario, he offered a fair deal and MADD should've taken it. It's easy to get above .12
Posted by: Sparky | April 13, 2010 3:17 PM
This is the most ridiculous thing I've seen in a long time. Why can Chairman Vallario get off his duff and do what MADD was asking for? Has the alcoholic beverage industry bought Vallario's vote. Sounds like Prince George's county residents only have themselves to blame for electing such an incompetant individual as their congressman. How may more lives will be lost to DUI crashes because Vallario failed to take the appropriate action. Unbelievable!!!! untsuciue
Posted by: Howard Katz | April 14, 2010 4:20 PM
C'mon Howard, Vallario accepted everything MADD wanted except for the .08 provision, and MADD declined to put ignition locks on repeat offenders and all those under 21 over a .04 difference. Stupid! How many people are going to get killed because the repeat offender doesn't have an ignition lock?
Posted by: Sparky | April 15, 2010 6:02 PM
As usual, Vallario voted his personal interest, rather than that of the citizens of Maryland. He makes big bucks defending those drunks, so why should anyone expect him to give that up?
Posted by: City Redux | April 18, 2010 5:43 PM