JEFFERSON CITY — Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) announced two Missouri state representatives as “2022 Legislators of the Year” for their tireless efforts to eliminate the 100% preventable crime of drunk driving.
“MADD thanks Representative Mike Henderson for honoring victims by authoring Bentley’s Law to ensure accountability and responsibility for those who make the 100% preventable decision to drive impaired. MADD applauds Representative Mark Sharp for authoring legislation to ensure all convicted drunk drivers utilize an ignition interlock,” said MADD National President Alex Otte.
The problem of drunk driving is far from over. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drunk driving deaths increased in Maryland by 32% from 2019 to 2020 resulting in 312 fatalities. Preliminary estimates for 2021 indicate another increase in drunk driving deaths nationally.
Representative Henderson authored Bentley’s and Mason’s Law (HB 1954) to require impaired drivers to pay child support when an impaired driver causes a crash that kills a parent or guardian.
“I am very honored to receive this recognition from Mothers Against Drunk Driving,” said Representative Henderson, R-Bonne Terre. “But this award really belongs to Ms. Cecilia Williams, whose passion and dedication to this cause is second to none. Through her work, Missouri is even closer to ensuring that families in the future will not have to experience the tragedy that her family has gone through. The families of children that have been left as orphans because of a drunk driver need more resources to care for these children, and those responsible must be held accountable for the devastation they leave in their wake. I look forward to continuing this endeavor in the legislature next session and hopefully putting Bentley’s and Mason’s Law into statute where it belongs.”
Representative Sharp authored HB 1690 aimed to improve the drunk driving law by requiring the use of ignition interlocks through the court process for first-time convicted drunk drivers for a period of six months.
“It was an honor to sponsor and present HB 1680 this past session to the committee on crime prevention,” said Representative Sharp. “Drinking under the influence has impacted so many of our lives and will continue to until we have stricter state laws cracking down on these avoidable situations. I look forward to working with MADD next session to get this language passed into law.”
In 2012, Missouri enacted an all-offender ignition interlock law. Currently, interlocks are mandated for repeat offenders and are required for first-time offenders if the person chooses to drive during an administrative license revocation period of 90 days. From 2006 to 2020 in Missouri, interlocks stopped 128,196 attempts to drive drunk with a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or greater, including 11,100 attempts to drive drunk in 2020.
In all, MADD recognized 65 state lawmakers for their commitment to saving lives. For the full list, visit madd.org.
About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded in 1980 by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving® (MADD) is the nation’s largest nonprofit working to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes and prevent underage drinking. MADD has helped to save more than 400,000 lives, reduce drunk driving deaths by more than 50 percent and promote designating a non-drinking driver. MADD’s Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving® calls for law enforcement support, ignition interlocks for all offenders and advanced vehicle technology. MADD has provided supportive services to nearly one million drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge through local victim advocates and the 24-Hour Victim Help Line 1-877-MADD-HELP. Visit www.madd.org or call 1-877-ASK-MADD.