MADD and Wilson Locking Systems Team Up To Lock the Wheels on Repeat Drunk Driving Offenders

LONG BEACH, Calif., May 19, 2003 -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) and Wilson Locking Systems have announced an alliance to help remove repeat drunk driving offenders from the roadways. Wilson, one of MADD's platinum "Technology Partners in Safety," manufactures vehicle immobilizers that clamp around a vehicle's wheel and tire, preventing it from being moved. Statistics show that one-third of those arrested for drunk driving are typically arrested again for the same offense.

"Part of MADD's higher-risk driver plan calls for restrictions on vehicle operation by suspending licenses, impounding or immobilizing vehicles and requiring alcohol ignition interlock devices on offenders' vehicles," said Wendy J. Hamilton, MADD national president. "Research shows that immobilizing vehicles works. Through our partnership with Wilson Locking Systems, law enforcement and the legal community, repeat offenders will be hard pressed to try and drive their vehicles after these kinds of restrictions have been handed down."

Last year, there were nearly 18,000 deaths in the United States due to traffic crashes involving alcohol and more than half a million injuries. Hamilton added, "Drunk driving is a national tragedy that is preventable." According to Jim Geisler, president and CEO of Wilson Locking Systems, when offenders are arrested and their licenses suspended, many continue to drive while impaired. But there is an effective solution, he says, "and we applaud MADD's continuing efforts to keep this issue in front of the public and the government." Through its three-year partnership, Wilson is providing a substantial contribution to MADD.

"Thanks to MADD, there are new laws on the books that empower law enforcement officials to use vehicle immobilizing devices like our WheelLock to "arrest" an offender's vehicle. These have been shown to be an effective deterrent to impaired driving."

Wilson Locking Systems was founded earlier this year by Geisler, and Ed Wilson, a veteran of the wheel immobilizer industry who has been designing and manufacturing immobilizers for 30 years.

Wilson Locking Systems make a full line of immobilizers for cars and light trucks under its WheelLock and CuffLock brands which the company introduced today at the International Parking Conference (IPC) in Long Beach, CA.

In addition, the company plans to develop and market a line of heavy-duty immobilizers for homeland security purposes for commercial vehicles such as tractor-trailers, tank trucks and buses, railroad cars, and even aircraft. MADD is the premiere organization working to fight drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501(c) 3 charity with approximately 600 affiliates and 2 million members nationwide. Nearly 270,000 lives have been saved since MADD's founding in 1980. For more information, visit www.madd.org.

For more information about Wilson Locking Systems write the company at 1295 Clark Road, Suite A, Santa Fe, NM 87505, call toll free at 866-957-5625 or visit www.wilsonlocks.com.

Web sites: http://www.madd.org
http://www.wilsonlocks.com