SPRINGFIELD –– Secretary of State Jesse White announced a six-point
legislative proposal today that includes mandatory jail sentences
for motorists caught driving on suspended or revoked licenses as
well as immobilization measures for their vehicles.
White also announced his intention to fight for increased
penalties for motorists driving under the extreme influence of
alcohol and habitual DUI offenders.
"Illinois has been a leader in efforts to combat drunk
driving and to improve road safety," said White. "While we have
enacted many laws that have aided our fight to remove dangerous
drivers from Illinois highways, hundreds of lives are still lost
each year at the hands of the most irresponsible drivers."
White’s legislative proposal received strong support from
law enforcement officials, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
and the Alliance Against Intoxicated Motorists (AAIM).
The key components of White’s legislative proposal would:
- Require mandatory jail sentences for anyone caught driving on a suspended or revoked driver’s license. Nearly 75,000 drivers were arrested for driving on a suspended or revoked license in 1998.
- Give judges the authority to immobilize the vehicles of persons caught driving on a suspended or revoked license by seizing the license plates, installing a boot or club device or impounding the vehicle.
- Increase penalties for driving under the extreme influence of alcohol and habitual DUI offenders. The increased penalties would kick in for anyone caught driving at twice the legal limit, .16 BAC, or higher. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, repeat DUI offenders and drivers with a BAC of .15 or greater constitute less than one percent of all drivers on the road, but account for 27 percent of drivers in fatal crashes.
- Eliminate court supervision for driving under the influence
with a child in the car. Under current law, drivers could avoid
the additional penalties for this crime through the supervision
option. Between 1985 and 1996, more than 3,500 children under
the age of 15 were killed and 58,000 children were injured in the
United States while riding with a drunk driver.
- Eliminate any type of driving relief for motorists who
refuse a chemical or breath test. In 1998, 38 percent of drivers
stopped for suspicion of DUI refused to take the breath test.
- Expand the use of Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock (BAIID)
devices as a condition of restricted driving permits for anyone
with more than one DUI disposition on their driving record.
White also noted that the Secretary of State Police would
increase patrols on Illinois’ busiest highways throughout the
Labor Day weekend. Last year, there were 15 crash fatalities in
Illinois over the Labor Day weekend. Eight, or 53 percent, of
those crash fatalities were alcohol related.
"I want to send a strong message to motorists that alcohol
and gas don’t mix. Please don’t drink and drive," said White.
"We are heading into a holiday weekend that includes many parties
and festivities. There will be heavy traffic on our roads as
people travel to meet with families and friends. Our hope is
that this weekend will be filled with fond memories for all and
tragedies for none."
