Today, Rep. Goodman (D-Kirkland) convened an emergency meeting of his Impaired Driving Working Group. This meeting was called in response to the latest deaths on our roadways at the hands of drunk drivers.
Goodman, who has the only impaired driving bill with any substance still alive in the legislature, HB 1482, is trying to add other provisions that will help prevent the kind of DUI tragedies that have recently plagued our state.
The gathering today was a comprehensive group: legislators, law enforcement, judges, attorneys and ignition interlock providers, as well as substance abuse treatment providers and victims. Those in attendance held a productive discussion on practical ways our state can stop drunk drivers and save lives.
Ending impaired driving is a tough issue to tackle, but protecting the public has to be top priority. The laws we pass will catch 99% of the “merlot sippers”. Everyone acknowledged it is the repeat offenders who continually flout the law that are hard to stop. But Goodman, undeterred, said, “we need to have different expectations”.
Following this morning’s meeting Representatives Goodman and Klippert as well as Senators Kline and Padden met this afternoon with the Governor to discuss the impaired driving proposals on which they could reach an agreement. These “five corners” came together and successfully identified areas of common interest.
Goodman said, “I was encouraged by the follow-up meeting. The Governor himself entered the room with a yellow pad, full of great ideas, and urged us to move forward. He assured us of his backing of an aggressive package of DUI reforms this legislative session.”
The brainstorming session in the Governor’s office yielded some workable proposals around which consensus will be found. Including:
-Expanded law enforcement activities
-Greater access to substance abuse treatment for DUI offenders in jails and prisons
-Measures to ensure more timely installation of Ignition Interlock Devices in DUI offender’s cars to prevent them from committing repeat offenses
Goodman was very optimistic and assured that, “Rep Klippert, Senators Kline and Padden, the Governor’s office and I will be meeting again in the next few days to continue discussions and finalize our plans to move forward.”