Melanie's Law may get tougher
The family of Melanie J. Powell, the teenager who was killed by a drunk driver, has been lobbying intensely at the statehouse for the passage of Senate Bill 1925, which would strengthen Melanie’s Law by requiring the OUI First Offenders to use the Ignition Interlock Device.
The Ignition Interlock Device is a breath testing device which is installed in DUI offenders’ vehicles to prevent the vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath. Ignition interlock readings are reported back to the Registry of Motor Vehicles and interlock violations can result in 10 year or lifetime license revocations.
Under the current version of Melanie’s Law, ignition interlock devices are required for second or subsequent drunk driving offenders. The new law would expand the requirement to those convicted of a first offense OUI so that first offenders would be required to use the ignition interlock device for the entire term of any DUI hardship license and for six months after getting a full license.
A hearing was recently held at the Statehouse regarding the proposed legislation. Senator Sen. Robert Hedlund, a Weymouth Republican introduced the Bill and Senator Steven A. Baddour, D-Methuen co-sponsored the bill. It is predicted that the Joint Committee on the Judiciary will recommend that the bill ought to pass and send it to the full Senate for a vote. It will then go to the Massachusetts House of Representatives for consideration.
If the bill passes, Massachusetts will join 11 other states which require all DUI offenders to use the ignition interlock device.
