10/21/05-Senators approved a bill by a 32-7 voted Thursday, Oct. 20, intended to toughen drunken driving laws in the state.
H4403 targets drivers who try to avoid conviction by refusing to take breath-alcohol and field sobriety tests when stopped by police.
The most debated portion dealt with whether prosecutors would also be able to submit certified records or prior drunken driving convictions in court, rather than having to prove prior offenses again – as they are now required to do under Massachusetts law.
The House and Senate previously approved bills that contained the provision, but a conference committee dropped it before the House voted 114-22 to approve the bill Wednesday, Oct. 19.
Gov. Mitt Romney stopped short of threatening to veto the bill and said he hoped lawmakers would support his attempt to restore the deleted language.
The measure would toughen existing penalties and create new crimes, including requiring repeat drunken drivers to use ignition interlock devices. The devices require drivers to blow into a mouthpiece, which measures the amount of alcohol on a person’s breath. If the driver blows clean, the car will then start; if not, it won’t budge.
The bill needs a final procedural vote in both the House and Senate before moving on to Romney’s desk.
For bill status, call (617) 722-2356.

10/03/05-Lawmakers are headed to the negotiating table to settle on new rules to get chronic drunken drivers off roads in the state.
The Senate approved a drunken driving bill after reinserting provisions from the original bill that were dropped in the House-approved version.
H4403 targets drivers who try to avoid conviction by refusing to take breath-alcohol and field sobriety tests when stopped by police.
Senators restored wording to use ignition interlock devices that require drivers to blow into a mouthpiece, which measures the amount of alcohol on a person’s breath. If the driver blows clean, the car will then start; if not, it won’t budge.
The bill would create a criminal penalty for anyone who tampers with the device.
The Senate version would also allow judges to impound a vehicle after a fourth drunken driving offense.
In addition, prosecutors would also be able to submit certified records or prior drunken driving convictions in court, rather than having to prove prior offenses again – as they are now required to do under Massachusetts law.
The House version would first require the state’s Supreme Judicial Court to rule it was constitutional.
The measure now heads to a House-Senate conference committee that will work on hammering out a compromise version to send to Gov. Mitt Romney for his signature.
For bill status, call (617) 722-2356.