130 DUI Arrests

A recent crackdown in Lansing, Michigan has resulted in over 130 DUI arrests. The city put more police officers on the roads around the 4^th of July to maintain public safety. From July 1^st to July 7^th the “Drive Sober or get Pulled Over” crackdown took place. During this time there were 131 drunk driving arrests, 45 drug-related motorist arrests, and 110 fugitives were caught.

3 Doors Down Co-founder Gets Trial Date

Todd Harrell, co-founder of 3 Doors Down, received a trial date of August 22 on a misdemeanor DUI charge as well as felony charges including vehicular manslaughter by intoxication in Nashville this past April. The alleged felony charges say Harrell was impaired by prescription drugs and alcohol on April 26 when his car clipped a pickup truck on Interstate 40 in Nashville. The other driver, Paul Howard Shoulders Jr., 47, died in the crash.

Attorneys have said Harrell voluntarily checked himself into a rehabilitation center in April after he posted a $100,000 bond for his release from the Nashville jail.

Click here to read the full article.

Drunk Driver Ordered to Pay $5M for Killing College Student

Drunk driving costs. Not only can drunk driving cost lives, but it can also cost your life savings. On October 24, 2009, 20-year old Baily Sloan was hit and killed by a drunk driver. The driver was convicted and is serving a 6-year sentence. Sloan’s parents, Becky and Michael, sued Redmond for the death of their daughter. The jury awarded Becky a total of $5.65 million.

To read more click here.

The state of Virginia has doubled the number of DUI offenders required to install Ignition Interlock Devices in their vehicles since a stricter law went into affect. This law, which has been in place since June 1, 2012, targets first time DUI offenders. Previously, the devices were only required if drivers were convicted of two or more DUI convictions or if their first DUI conviction included a Blood Alcohol Content of 0.15 or higher.

To read the full article, click here.

Gov. Cuomo Toughens Leandra's Law

Governor Cuomo of NY signed into law a new bill to keep more drunk drivers off of New York roads. This new legislation toughens Leandra's Law, a bill that was passed in 2009 which targeted those who drive drunk with children in the vehicles. The new provisos of Leandra's Law affect persons who drive drunk on a conditional license.

These new provisions will make it a felony for anyone to drive drunk on a conditional license. Before this bill was signed into law, it has only been a traffic infraction to be caught drinking drunk with a conditional license.

More About Leandra's Law:
Leandra's Law is named after 11 year old Leandra Rosado who was killed in October 2009 when the adult driving her  and her friends crashed the car on the Henry Hudson Parkway in NYC. The driver was arrested for DWI. This followed the horrific "Taconic Crash" in which 8 people were killed, 4 of them children. Mr. Rosado, Leandra's father, quickly teamed with MADD, Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr., Assemblman Harvey Weisenberg and the Governor of NY to pass this legislation on child endangerment and ignition interlocks. The resulting "Leandra's Law" elevates the crime of drunk driving with a child in the car to a Class E felony punishable up to 4 years in prison; if the child is injured, 7 years; and if killed, 15 years. It also mandates ignition interlocks for the cars of all convicted DWI offenders for a minimum of 6 months.

To read the full article, click here.

To learn more about Leandra's Law, click here.

Illinois Governor Cracks Down On Drunk Boating

Governor Pat Quinn, Illinois, signed as series of bills into law to enhance public safety on waterways in Illinois. The new bill states that anyone operating a motorboat involved in an accident must consent to a chemical test of their blood, breath or urine to determine their blood alcohol or drug content.

Refusal of the testing or failing to pass the alcohol or drug testing may result in the the suspension of of their Illinois driver's license.

To read the full article, click here.