The Surface Transportation Authorization Act on Capitol Hill needs your support. We stand with MADD on the vital importance of two issues in that bill that need to get passed. Specifically a measure to require states to intact a bill requiring Ignition Interlock Devices in vehicles owned by every single person convicted of drunk driving. Secondly in the same part of the bill, there is a provision to require...

Along with other laws, Texas puts into law today one of the toughest primary seatbelt laws in the nation today. Under the law all passengers; front seat and back must be buckled up or the driver faces stiff penalties.  The law also requires that any child under age 8 be restrained in an approved child passenger safety seat, unless the child is at least 4 feet 9 inches tall. Additionally, the law now allows...

The Florida legislature fought tooth and nail for years against the primary seatbelt law co-sponsored by Irv Slosberg. Slosberg began is crusade and in fact ran for office for the main purpose of seeing this bill pass. He had a stake in it. His daughter Dori was killed in a tragic car accident in 1994. Convinced that she would have been saved through the use of seat belts, he began his crusade and formed the...

At least 3 states; Arkansas, Florida and Wisconsin put their new primary seat belt laws into effect this July. The Federal Government to their credit dangled large amounts of highway funds before every state that had seatbelt laws as a secondary offense, and it looks like three took the bait. It wasn’t easy in any of the states, there is always very strong opposition to laws pertaining to seat belts, though...

For all the specious “civil rights” arguments that often accompany seatbelt scofflaws, here’s a scofflaw case with a very happy ending. Stories like these happen more often than some would like to admit but rarely make the news. This comes to us from TV station KSTP A Minnesota driver is thanking a police officer for ticketing him. Kelly Barstow was driving home to Grand Rapids in May when he was pulled...

In an important and emerging trend, both Illinois and DC banned texting while driving. Illinois in a proper bill and DC in an emergency Multi-purpose crime bill. The ban in Illinois went into effect earlier this August as did DCs.  Illinois and DC will join a growing list of states looking to curb accidents linked to texting. Oregon and New Hampshire banned texting drivers in July, and Alaska, Arkansas,...

It’s always encouraging when lawmakers actually take a stand for health concerns that center squarely on trauma research and care. Other diseases trump trauma in a huge way in terms of legislation, research dollars and awareness, yet trauma is the one and only disease that makes the news in every community across this nation every day. I guess we just assume our loved ones will get the best care available...

It’s good to see states actually concerned about the trail of blood that DUI drivers leave on the nations highways. In January 2009 Illinois made the price for first time offenders stricter, including the use of blood alcohol ignition interlock devices on vehicles of the offenders for many first time offenses, a move we heartily applaud. Longer License Suspension Periods Under the new laws, first-time...

It happens after every jaw dropping larger-than-life tragedy. If a law could have prevented it, lawmakers armchair quarterback. That’s how it should be, just a shame they have a “we could have had a V8” moment after 8 deaths at the hands of Diane Schuler instead of before. We are getting better, thanks in large part to the vigilance of MADD, but we have a LONG way to go. I’ve actually been involved in...

New Jersey becomes the fourth state, following California, Maryland and Virginia, with limits on handgun sales. Buyers or sellers who violate the law face penalties of up to 18 months in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie has said existing gun laws need better enforcement and that he wouldn’t focus on enacting new gun legislation, and his campaign manager...