Drunk Driving Bill Denied Fair Hearing by California Legislature

Californians Share Roads with 310,000 Three-Time Drunk Drivers

MADD Calls for the Public to Support Lifesaving Legislation

SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk
Driving (MADD) today called on the Senate Public Safety Committee to restore
AB 2784 to its original form and reinstate a requirement for anyone convicted
of a DUI to use an alcohol ignition interlock. The Assembly Appropriations
Committee weakened the original bill introduced by Assembly Member Mike Feuer
(D-Los Angeles) just as new data from the U.S. Department of Transportation
shows that California's families are sharing the road with 310,971 drunk
drivers with three or more DUI convictions.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20030421/MADDLOGO )

"Drunk driving is a primary threat to the safety and well-being of everyone in
California - a threat that legislation requiring interlocks for convicted
drunk drivers can significantly reduce," said MADD National CEO Chuck Hurley.
"That's why the Senate needs to revoke the Assembly's amendment and ensure
that the original bill is approved to keep convicted drunk drivers off
California's roadways."

MADD is urging the Senate Public Safety Committee to hold a hearing on the
merits of requiring all convicted drunk drivers to use an ignition interlock
device. Additionally, Californians across the state should voice their strong
disappointment in this weakened bill and call on legislators to hold a hearing
and support the use of ignition interlocks for all convicted DUI offenders.

"In 2006, drunk drivers killed 1,276 people in California," said Matthias
Mendezona, executive director of MADD California. "Because so many of these
drunk driving tragedies are caused by those who have prior convictions, we
must pass strong legislation to require alcohol ignition interlocks for
everyone convicted of drunk driving."

Mandatory ignition interlock devices for convicted offenders are
scientifically proven to deter future drunk driving offenses. Studies show
that interlock devices are 65 percent effective in reducing recidivism while
installed on the vehicle. Passage of AB 2784 as originally introduced will
save hundreds of lives and prevent thousands of injuries.

Alcohol ignition interlocks, paid for by the convicted drunk driver, are a
breath test device linked to a vehicle's ignition system. When a driver wishes
to start his or her vehicle, he or she must first blow into the device, but
the vehicle will not start if the driver has alcohol in his or her system.

MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent
crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501 (c) (3) charity with 2
million members and supporters nationwide. Founded in 1980, MADD has helped
save more than 330,000 lives. For more information, visit www.madd.org

SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving

Matthias Mendezona of MADD CA, +1-916-481-6233, matthias.mendezona@madd.org;
Heidi Castle of MADD, +1-469-420-4545, heidi.castle@madd.org; or Mike McNeil,
+1-202-572-2889, mike.mcneil@gmmb.com, for MADD