Sobering Up

Congress went to work last week with the passage of the $109 billion Moving Ahead for Progress (MAP) 21 Transportation Bill, and President Obama formalized the legislative process today by signing this historic bill into law. While many of the provisions of this bill are intended to create jobs, address student loan issues, and shore [...]

New York’s groundbreaking Leandra’s Law had its first official challenge last month when an offender sentenced to the mandatory year of ignition interlock challenged his sentence after failing to install the system in the required timeframe, then failing subsequent uploads and tests. Ernan Perez’s challenge represents the first reported one to the state law, but [...]

According to the Los Angeles Times, a little known California law has caused an astounding increase in the number of paroles who were taken off supervision in April. About 8,500 parolees were taken off supervision in April , more than six times the 1,300 discharged in March. Under the new law, parolees who were last [...]

The National Association of Drug Court Professionals 18th Annual Drug Court Training Conference continues into the second full day of the conference Friday, and the schedule is jam packed full of events and DWI/Alcohol-specific happenings. Highlights: 7:00-8:00 a.m. The Drug Court Expo/Exhibit Hall Opens early for breakfast and networking. This could be your last chance [...]

Alcohol Monitoring Systems applauds the New York State Senate, and in particular the leadership of Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick),  with the passage of S6636.  The new law is intended to strengthen Leandra’s Law, which was signed into law in 2011, and mandated ignition interlock for every convicted DUI offender in every vehicle they [...]

Stephen K. Talpins, CEO of NPAMC; Matthew Mitchell, Director of Industry Relations for Alcohol Monitorng Systems, Inc.; and Ronald Lassiter II, COO of Affinition, get ready for Day 2 of NTSB’s Reaching Zero Event in Washington, D.C.

The National Traffic Safety Board is hosting their first-ever two-day forum focused on eliminating substance-impaired driving. Reaching Zero is being held May 15-16 in Washington, D.C., where representatives from academia, research and advocacy organizations, industry, and state and federal agencies will attend and serve as panelists. The goal of the forum is to identify actions [...]

In an attempt to stop drunk driving, the French government announced a new law requiring all drivers to carry a single-use, portable breathalyzer in every car. The law goes into effect on July 1, 2012, and raises a number of interesting questions. The device, which costs roughly $2 to $10, is not connected to the [...]

In today’s issue of the Wall Street Journal, reporter Joseph White reports on the progress of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers in the development of fully integrated alcohol interlock technology in all automobiles. After the Party, a Car That Takes Away Your Keys is a well-done, comprehensive look at [...]

Senate Bill 1813 titled “Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21)”, a two-year, $109 billion plan, was passed March 14 by the U.S. Senate. The bill reauthorizes the Federal-aid highway program. Included in the bill are numerous impaired driving countermeasures for which states can receive annual incentive grants (410 grants) to adopt and implement [...]