Full-day K worth Jessamine taxpayers' dollars

Comment by Shark88: Friday, September 3

Ms. Dragomir, you can donate from your own personal funds to help the schools out. It is a free co...read more...

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Comment by Shark88: Friday, September 3

So the state is forcing the county to build a justice center? When does that have to be built?...read more...

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For weeks I have grown so accustomed to writing acerbic retorts to Leland Conway’s columns with wh...read more...

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Tougher DUI laws now have a champion in the Kentucky Senate. Sen. Tom Buford, R-Nicholasville, is supporting House Bill 58, the DUI interlock legislation that passed the House of Representatives on Feb. 18 with a unanimous, bi-partisan vote of 95-0. In previous years, similar legislation has passed the House but died in the Senate. Buford vows to fight for the new law that he believes will save lives.

“Ignition interlock devices are shown to reduce drunk driving. As legislators, if we can do something that is proven to save lives, then we should do it — public safety is our highest priority,” he said. “Two hundred people died at the hands of drunk drivers on Kentucky’s highways in 2008. “It is time we stand up for those victims and their families to make our highways safer and save others from such horrific tragedies.”

Buford said that driving drunk isn’t just a Kentucky problem.

“Drunk driving is a major problem in the United States. With 34,000 arrests and 32,000 convictions in 2008 in Kentucky, we must act now to make our highways safer,” Buford said. “We all remember the Carrollton tragedy where 27 young lives were lost and many others scarred for life. We have the technology and the ability to enforce our laws and it’s working in other states who have interlock laws.”

The House of Representatives passed a law to strengthen DUI laws in Kentucky that will require that an ignition interlock device be installed on the automobile of anyone convicted of a DUI offense. The House voted overwhelmingly (95-0) to support House Bill 58. The legislation is now awaiting a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee. Senator Tom Jensen is Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.

The National President of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), Laura Dean-Mooney, spoke in favor of the legislation at a press conference held in Kentucky on Feb. 18. Mooney told the audience that her husband was an innocent victim of a drunk driver who in 1991 crashed into his car and killed him instantly. She has been speaking out for tougher drunk driving laws in the United States ever since the tragedy.

“House Bill 58 will require that convicted drunk driving offenders blow into an interlock device before they drive,” she said. “We know that interlocks stop the offender from driving their vehicle while drunk and prevent future offenses.”

House Bill 58 is sponsored by state Rep. Dennis Keene, D-Campbell County, along with 54 co-sponsors.

“The members of the House of Representative came together not as Democrats and Republicans, but as Kentuckians, to do the job for which we were sent to Frankfort, to improve the lives of Kentuckians” Keene said. “I am so pleased and proud of Sen. Tom Buford to stepping up to champion this important legislation.”

Twelve states already require interlock devices; Kentucky would become the 13th state. The Governor’s Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is the states’ voice on highway safety. The organization supports vehicle sanctions including ignition interlock devices and strong encourages states to enact interlock laws.

Both Keene and Dean-Mooney have experienced tragedy at the hands of drunk drivers. Keene nearly lost his daughter in a drunk driving accident in 2002. She required three subsequent surgeries in order to overcome her injuries.

Under the legislation, an ignition interlock device shall be imposed on the first offense of driving under the influence. In 2008, nearly 200 people lost their lives in Kentucky due to drunk drivers. Over 34,000 were arrested in 2008 for drunk driving in Kentucky.

New Mexico passed similar legislation that has led to a 35 percent drop in drunk driving deaths since its passage. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), 13,000 people lost their lives in drunk driving accidents in 2007.

“This legislation is a public protection act that will help make our roads safer while saving many lives. I am very proud to champion this legislation and look forward to the governor signing House Bill 58 into law,” Keene said.

Currently seven ignition interlock device manufacturers are approved to do business in Kentucky and upon passage of HB. 58; more providers are expected to enter the state.

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