MADD Very Concerned with Jason Kidd Ruling

DALLAS, July 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) is very concerned every time we hear about a drunk driving offense, since nearly 10,000 people are killed and another 315,000 are injured in drunk driving crashes each year. Drunk driving is a 100 percent preventable crime and we expect our judicial system to apply punishments appropriate for such a violent crime.

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MADD believes that all convicted drunk drivers should be required to have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle as a way to prevent future offenses and protect the American public. The current law in New York requires interlocks for all convicted drunk driving offenders, however, by pleading down to a lesser charge, Mr. Kidd is able to avoid this requirement. The plea agreement illustrates one of the many loopholes existing in DWI laws in New York and throughout the United States. MADD urges every state to demonstrate that they take drunk driving seriously by passing all-offender ignition interlock laws and prosecuting drunk driving to the full extent of the law.

For more information about MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving^®, visit www.madd.org/campaign.

About Mothers Against Drunk Driving
Founded by a mother whose daughter was killed by a drunk driver, Mothers Against Drunk Driving^® (MADD) is the nation's largest nonprofit working to protect families from drunk driving and underage drinking. With the help of those who want a safer future, MADD's Campaign to Eliminate Drunk Driving^® will end this danger on America's roads. PowerTalk 21^® is the national day for parents to talk with their kids about alcohol, using the proven strategies of Power of Parents^® to reduce the risk of underage drinking. And as one of the largest victim services organizations in the U.S., MADD also supports drunk and drugged driving victims and survivors at no charge, serving one person every eight minutes through local MADD victim advocates and at 1-877-MADD-HELP.  Learn more at www.madd.org or by calling 1-877-ASK-MADD.

SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving