FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (WUSA) – There’s a lot of focus on the fact that Carlos Montano is an illegal immigrant. But leaders at MADD say the real problem is our drunk driving laws, and how time and time again, drunk drivers with serious alcohol problems are allowed to get right back in the seat of a car.
Montano’s racked up a frightening record: reckless driving, public drunkenness, speeding, three times driving after his license was revoked, and two DUI convictions.
“It doesn’t matter if he’s from the moon, Bolivia or the United States. He shouldn’t have been driving drunk,” says Jeff Levy with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
Levy says the first time someone is caught driving drunk, they’ve already driven drunk without getting caught 87 times, according to MADD statistics. That’s why MADD is pushing for laws that require interlock devices for first time DUI offenders. Interlock devices require the driver to blow into a breathalyzer. It won’t let the car start if the driver has been drinking.
Arizona and New Mexico are two out of about a dozen that require interlock devices for first time DUI offenders. Those states report a more than 30% decline in alcohol related crashes, injuries and deaths.
Virginia only requires interlock devices for second time offenders.
“We think anyone convicted of DUI should be prevented from driving. It’s as simple as that,” says Levy.
“Had you put the interlock device on the car (Montano was driving) after the first time, rather then giving him break after break after break, until he’s impaired again and killed someone,” said Jack Dalton, the director of public policy for National Interlock System, Inc.
Sure drinking and driving kills people and those guilty of it should be punished, but until we have a foolproof system of proving that guilt I think Virgina DUI laws should stay as they are.
