Originally Posted by kwflatbed

Originally Posted by Delta784

That right there reveals their true motivations.

The ONLY possible reason a member of the Legislature would try to scuttle that provision is so they could continue to plead-down cases for the clients of their real job....defense attorney.

Originally Posted by MSP75

Not to mention, many of these esteemed legislatures are the ones being stopped as they swerve among the marked lanes.

Originally Posted by kwflatbed

Massachusetts lawmakers seek compromise on drunken driving bill

Lawmakers in Massachusetts are headed to the negotiating table to settle on new rules to get chronic drunken drivers off roads in the state.

The state Senate approved a drunken driving bill after reinserting provisions from the original bill that were dropped in the House-approved version.

Melanie’s Bill – named for a 13-year-old-girl who was killed by a repeat drunken driver two years ago – targets drivers who try to avoid conviction by refusing to take breath-alcohol and field sobriety tests when stopped by police.

Senators restored wording to use ignition interlock devices that require drivers to blow into a mouthpiece, which measures the amount of alcohol on a person’s breath. If the driver blows clean, the car will then start; if not, it won’t budge.

The bill would create a criminal penalty for anyone who tampers with the device.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about one-third of all arrests or convictions for DUI come from repeat offenders.

The Senate version would also allow judges to impound a vehicle after a fourth drunken driving offense.

In addition, prosecutors would also be able to submit certified records or prior drunken driving convictions in court, rather than having to prove prior offenses again – as they are now required to do under Massachusetts law.

The House version would first require the state’s Supreme Judicial Court to rule it was constitutional.

The measure now heads to a House-Senate conference committee that will work on hammering out a compromise version to send to Gov. Mitt Romney for his signature.

Originally Posted by SOT_II

SO what happens if you get your friend to blow into the thing?

Originally Posted by Delta784

My understanding is that it's much like a home breath test for people on probation for alcohol-related crimes. The thing you blow into resembles a cross between and oxygen mask and a diver's mouthpiece that has a built-in audio receiver/transceiver. The person is asked to repeat some words several times while they have the mask tightly against their face, in order to establish a voice-print, which is then matched against what they have on-file. Assuming the voice matches, the machine (without warning) will suddenly ask for a blow, and there is no time whatsoever for someone to pass-off the mask to anyone else.

Originally Posted by LenS

Would that mean that another family member or friend couldn't drive the car? [voice-print not on file]

Originally Posted by Delta784

I'm not really sure, but anything is preferable to just giving them their licenses back, unrestricted.

Originally Posted by MSP75

They should be lucky they get to keep the car. I think the vehicle should be a mandatory donation to a charity.

Originally Posted by LenS

And maybe we can do a summary execution?

Unless you are going to incarcerate them forever and put them and their families on the public dole, I doubt this would be effective in stopping their lifestyle of the drunk and stupid!

If you can't scare them straight, I doubt that anything else will work other than a ball and very short chain. [Don't get me wrong, I have no sympathy for drunk drivers! I just don't have any bullet-proof answers either.]

Originally Posted by MSP75

A summary execution of violators after a jury by their peers, of course. That would solve some problems and leave some elected posts available.

Originally Posted by MSP75

It does blow my mind how little press this really gets considering the LE community, MADD, and concerned voters are really interested in tougher measures. It just shows how corrupt Beacon Hill is and how the public lets it be that way.