In Louisiana, Advocates supports advancing Senate Bill (SB) 278 to upgrade the ignition interlock device (IID) law. SB 278 would require IID use by all convicted drunk driving offenders on any motor vehicle operated by the offender as a condition of license reinstatement. This safety upgrade is critical and timely.
Drunk driving is a deadly and costly threat to Louisiana families. In 2023, 232 people were needlessly killed in drunk driving crashes in Louisiana, accounting for 29 percent of traffic fatalities, according to the most recent data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
IIDs are saving lives in the Pelican State. Information from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) on the effectiveness of IIDs notes that IIDs prevented over 12,849 attempts to drive drunk in Louisiana in 2024 alone and 190,793 attempts from 2006 to 2024. Research shows that IIDs reduce recidivism with reductions in subsequent arrests ranging from 50 to 90 percent while the IID is installed on the vehicle.
SB 278 would improve the effectiveness of the IID program and help prevent drunk driving.
Read the full letter here.