Three years ago, Frank Blair received the knock on the door that is every parent’s worst nightmare. His 24-year-old daughter, Sheena, had been killed by a drunk driver.
Since that tragic evening, Frank has dedicated his life to preventing other parents from receiving similar news.
That work received legislative approval on Thursday afternoon when the House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 5912 with bipartisan support. The measure is designed to target repeat drunk drivers by imposing mandatory arrests for a second offense. Current law does not require that an offender be taken to jail.
The bill was introduced by Rep. Dawn Morrell (D-Puyallup), a critical-care nurse who represents the Blair family in the state legislature.
“I’ve had to ask the family of a 12-year-old drunk driving victim if they want their child to be an organ donor,” said Rep. Morrell. “As a nurse and as a mother, these decisions are too painful to imagine. The changes we made today will make Washington roadways safer for our kids and grandkids.”
The bill requires an interlock system to be required within five business days of release. Under the status quo, there is no consistent requirement for this important safeguard to be installed. In addition, the bill provides critical funding for prosecutors to file charges against chronic offenders.
“Recent tragedies have reminded us that we have more work to do to reduce the carnage from drunk driving,” said Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland). “The bill we sent to the Governor’s desk today, with tough and smart new measures to hold drunk drivers accountable, is a major step forward to make Washington’s roadways safer.”