Maryland is cracking down even harder on drunk drivers. House Bill 1015, which was introduced and first read in February of 2013, was read a second time in early 2014 and is currently waiting on the Governor's signature.
Passed in House and Senate
House Bill 1015 would specifically punish drivers operating a vehicle while impaired by alcohol more severely. The bill forces drunk drivers found guilty of transporting a minor at the time of the DUI to install an ignition interlock in the vehicle of the offender.
The Maryland proposal, which has received the endorsement of delegate Sam Arora from Montgomery County, seeks to address an increasing concern among Maryland's constituents. Nearly every 24 hours in Maryland a DUI or DWI occurs in which the offending driver was transporting a child at the time of the arrest.
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House Bill 1015 has already successfully passed through both Maryland's House of Representatives and Maryland's Senate, both by unanimous decisions. The proposal seeks to address the nearly 500 drunk drivers arrested in Maryland throughout 2012 who were reportedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol in addition to transporting a minor.
Ignition Interlock System Program
Logistically, House Bill 1015 punishes those operating a vehicle while drunk and transporting a person under 16 with the same kind of treatment it doles out to repeat DUI offenders. That is, in both cases Maryland forces the mandatory installation of an ignition interlock in the offender's car.
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An ignition interlock is a mechanical device much like a breathalyzer that is installed directly into the dashboard of a car. An ignition interlock owes its namesake to the fact that drivers found guilty of certain kinds of DUI offenses (e.g., DUI and transporting a minor) are required to breathe into the ignition interlock before starting up their car.
House Bill 1015, as sponsored by Delegates Arora and Clippinger, forces those convicted of drunk driving while transporting a minor to satisfactorily complete the Ignition Interlock System Program in the state of Maryland. This bill will become fully effective October 1st, 2014 if signed by Governor Martin O'Malley.
MVA And Ignition Interlock System Program
According to Maryland's Motor Vehicle Administration (MVA), those found guilty of drunk driving while transporting a minor must blow into the ignition interlock device. If the driver's blood-alcohol content exceeds the accepted level of the device, then the car will not start.
The determination of whether an ignition interlock system must be installed into your vehicle, and the duration of time the ignition interlock must be used, is controlled by the Maryland District Court and the Medical Advisory Board. The Office of Administrative Hearing may also have a say on whether to install an ignition interlock system.
Unfortunately, if Maryland drivers are found guilty of drinking and driving with a child passenger under the age of 16 at the same time, their participation in the ignition interlock system program in Maryland is compulsory. The costs of the program, furthermore, are to be paid by the offender, according to the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration.
Installation and periodic maintenance costs are also paid for by the offender. If more points are added to your license, or if you are found guilty of transgressing the ignition interlock system program's rule, more time may be added under which you have to drive with the ignition interlock system affixed to your dashboard.
Overall, the harsher penalties brought about by Maryland House Bill 1015 are meant to address the growing risk of drunk driving and keeping minors out of harm's way. Drunk driving while transporting minors has doubled over the last four years in Maryland, which is cause for concern.
