Melanie’s Law Enters Third Year of Targeting Repeat OUI Offenders
On October 28, 2005, Beacon Hill passed legislation that created tougher penalties and sanctions against Operating Under the Influence (OUI) offenders in Massachusetts. Melanie’s Law also required the RMV to create a state-run ignition interlock program (IID) that repeat offenders must enroll in before they can apply for a hardship license or get their license re-instated.
Currently, more than 3,000 repeat offenders are using the devices which do not allow a vehicle to start if the IID detects more than .02 alcohol in their system. The Drunk Driving Advisory Committee that the Registrar formed to review the programs regulations will study the effectiveness of the IID program once the first enrollees successfully graduate after January 2008.
Interim reports show that Melanie’s Law has led to more arrests of suspected repeat offenders and fewer of the accused refusing to take a chemical breath test.
