MADD Joins Assembly Member Feuer in Support of Anti-Drunk Driving Legislation

Alcohol Ignition Interlocks for all Convicted Drunk Drivers will Save Lives in California

WHAT: Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), in partnership with California state Assembly Member Mike Feuer (D-Los Angeles) and the California Highway Patrol, will be holding a news conference in support of critical anti-drunk driving legislation that can reduce the number of drunk driving deaths on California's roadways. A.B. 2784, introduced by Assembly Member Feuer, would require all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, to install alcohol ignition interlocks on their vehicles. This bill passed California's Assembly Committee for Public Safety today, Tuesday, April 8.

Following the news conference will be a live demonstration of interlock technology.

  WHO:
  Chuck Hurley, MADD National CEO

  Assembly Member Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles

  Joseph Farrow, California Highway Patrol Commissioner

  Local drunk driving victim

  WHEN:
  April 9, 2008
  11:00 a.m.

  WHERE:
  California Highway Patrol's Central Los Angeles Headquarters
  777 W Washington Blvd, Los Angeles 90015

WHY: Drunk driving is the nation's most frequently committed violent crime. In 2006, more than 1,276 people were killed on California roadways in drunk driving crashes. Research shows that alcohol ignition interlocks on the vehicles of all convicted drunk drivers, including first-time offenders, will significantly reduce deaths and injuries due to drunk driving. The devices are up to 90 percent effective at decreasing recidivism when installed and used on the vehicles of both first-time and repeat offenders.

MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with 2 million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped save more than 330,000 lives. For more information, visit www.madd.org.

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- April 8, 2008/