Drunk Driving Fatalities Fuel Legislative Change - Erika Kurre

Two suspected drunk driving fatalities in the past week are fueling support for tougher laws.

Two bills will be brought to lawmakers this session.

And advocates hope they'll help keep drunk drivers off the streets.

For those who've lost friends and loved ones, getting tougher laws can't happen soon enough.

Monday, October 26th, was a day 45 year old Malindy Raymer didn't live to see.

A man suspected of driving drunk wrecked into the car she was riding in on I-24 Sunday night.

Raymer's friend Barbara Hale says, "I lost a very good friend you know and that can't be replaced."

The same thing happened to 44 year old Eddy McCreery, killed in a crash on I-40 three days earlier by a woman police believe was also driving drunk.

MADD state Executive Director Laura Dial says, "2 fatalities in one weekend or 2 fatal crashes in one weekend is just too much."

Dial says the economic downturn and a crackdown by law enforcement have helped reduce the number of DUI fatalities since 2007.

But she says that's not enough.

Hundreds of people are killed in crashes like these each year and lawmakers are calling for change.

Senator Mae Beavers says, "From ages two to 35, it's the leading cause of death, which is kind of startling."

Beavers wants tougher DUI laws.

She's hoping legislators will change Tennessee's open container law, making it illegal for anyone to have an open alcohol container in a car.

Beavers is also supporting a bill mandating ignition interlock devices for all convicted DUI offenders-- something MADD has backed for years.

Dial says, "Since New Mexico has seen about a 35% decrease in fatalities, if our fatalities hover around 350 or so to 327 or so last year, maybe only 300 this year, then that means we can save more than 100 lives."

It's a change Beavers believes will keep more innocent people from being killed.

And heading into a holiday weekend, advocates are worried there could be more.

Hale says, "Something needs to be done-- something very serious."

The two drunk driving bills will come before legislators in this year's legislative session in January.Drunk Driving Fatalities Fuel Legislative Change - Erika Kurre

Posted: Friday, October 30 2009, 08:44 PM CDT