Mothers
Against Drunk Driving (M.A.D.D.) has named Senator Robert L. Hedlund their 2013
“Legislator of the Year” in Massachusetts for his legislative contributions to
the fight against drunk driving. David Deiuliis, with M.A.D.D.’s Massachusetts
State Office, presented Senator Hedlund with the award at the State House. In their announcement, M.A.D.D. National
President Jan Withers thanked Senator Hedlund for authoring legislation
improving drunk driving laws in Massachusetts, including Senator Hedlund's
pending legislation requiring ignition interlocks for all convicted drunk
drivers.
Hedlund
has been an active and effective anti-drunk driving legislator over the past
decade. In 2005, he was the lead Senate sponsor of “Melanie’s Law,” the
landmark legislation that was the first major reform of our state’s drunk
driving laws in decades. Under Melanie’s Law, repeat drunk drivers who are
still eligible to drive have to have an ignition interlock device installed in
any vehicle they drive. Melanie’s Law also doubled sentences for motor
vehicle manslaughter, created a mandatory minimum sentence of one year in jail for
anyone convicted of driving drunk with a suspended license, increased license
suspension for refusal of the Breathalyzer, created a new child endangerment by
OUI offense, and increased penalties for knowingly allowing someone under a
license suspension for drunken driving to use an automobile.
According
to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving deaths in
Massachusetts have fallen over 20% since the passage of Melanie’s Law.
Last
year, Senator Hedlund helped pass an amendment in the Senate to strengthen
Melanie’s Law by closing a loophole that allows repeat drunk drivers who admit to sufficient facts for a finding of guilty avoid license revocation
because their admission was not considered a conviction. The amendment for
license revocation included repeat drunk drivers assigned to an alcohol or
controlled substance education, treatment, or rehabilitation program. While the
wording included in the final conference committee budget wasn’t as strong as
the Hedlund amendment, it was another step in helping to prevent recidivism.
This
year, Senator Hedlund has filed legislation aimed at closing loopholes within
Melanie’s Law that drunk drivers have used to avoid responsibility and
punishment. If enacted, the bill, which is entitled “An Act relative to
enhancing Melanie's Law,” would; 1) make it more difficult for repeat drunk
drivers to escape the harsher penalties contained in Melanie’s Law; 2) remove the
ability for drivers acquitted of drunk driving who refused a breathalyzer test
from applying to get their license back immediately instead of serving the
mandated 180-day suspension; 3) ensure that the sentences of repeat offenders
are served consecutively, not concurrently, and; 4) would give judges the
ability to sentence habitual drunk drivers to up to 20 years in jail.
“Drunk
driving is one of the biggest threats to public safety and we must remain
vigilant to continue the progress we have made in our fight to prevent it,”
said Hedlund. “I am honored to receive this award and I am committed to continuing
to make our drunk driving laws stronger and more effective.”
