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Michigan Network of Employers for Traffic Safety: State Unveils Repeat Offender Program for Michigan Businesses and Their Employees

11 December 2000

Michigan Network of Employers for Traffic Safety: State Unveils Repeat Offender Program for Michigan Businesses and Their Employees

                 Serious consequences await repeat offenders

    LANSING, Mich., Dec. 11 The Michigan Network of Employers
for Traffic Safety (NETS) has developed a new, employer-based education
program, entitled "The Laws Have Changed," to help employers and employees
understand the state's tough, new repeat offender laws.
    The repeat offender laws are designed to separate repeat offenders from
vehicles through license plate confiscation, mandatory vehicle immobilization,
ignition interlock and possible vehicle forfeiture.
    The laws define repeat offenders as drivers with two or more alcohol-
related driving convictions, or three or more additional suspensions for
driving on a suspended or revoked driver license.
    Businesses could be dramatically affected if employees are driving
company-owned vehicles at the time of arrest or have their driver license
suspended or revoked.  The detrimental impact on employees could also be
substantial if they are unable to drive to, from, or in the course of their
jobs.
    The campaign kit, which is available to Michigan businesses free of
charge, includes an instructional video and a CD-ROM that outline the new
laws, posters, pay check stuffers and information explaining how employers can
easily monitor the driving records of employees who drive company vehicles.
    "The repeat offender laws are having a tremendous impact on identifying
repeat offenders and getting them off the road," said Governor John Engler,
the Michigan representative on the national NETS board.  "In 14 months more
than 21,000 license plates have been confiscated and another 5,737 vehicles
have been immobilized, which demonstrates the magnitude of the risk repeat
offenders create for law abiding citizens traveling our roadways."
    The employer-based program follows a successful "Give 'em the Boot" public
information campaign developed by Secretary of State Candice S. Miller, which
included in-person training for more than 5,000 law enforcement officers,
court staff and prosecutors about the new laws.  Printed training materials
were mailed to hundreds of partners in the criminal justice system.
    Both Governor Engler and Secretary Miller actively championed the
passage of the repeat offender laws, which took effect October 1, 1999.
    NETS is a national organization devoted to promoting workplace traffic
safety programs.  Traffic crashes are the leading cause of on-the-job death
and injury.  Programs to address traffic safety issues can benefit both
employers and employees.
    In Michigan, more than 700 businesses are members of NETS, which is
administered by the Office of Highway Safety Planning of the Michigan State
Police Department.
    Businesses can request a free educational kit by contacting the Michigan
Resource Center.  Requests can be faxed to 517-882-7778 or emailed to
info@wearemrc.org .  Please ask for a Repeat Offender Traffic Laws Employee
Education Kit and include a complete address and phone number.  For more
information and a preview of the materials available, log on to the NETS web
site: http://www.ohsp.state.mi.us .