Frank Lautenberg: “Today Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio and I are helping to make a big stride in re-arming our country in the war against…”

“Today Senator Mike DeWine of Ohio and I are helping to make a big stride in re-arming our country in the war against drunk driving. Together, we have introduced two pieces of legislation which will help reduce the number of civilian casualties in this war by arming our government safety officials with the weapons they need to keep drunk drivers off of our roads. First, I am proud to be a cosponsor of Senator DeWine's legislation on improving enforcement of drunk driving laws. There are some good drunk driving laws on the books and they should not be ignored. Since September 11, 2001, much of our country's law enforcement focus has been on ensuring the security of citizens from terrorist attack. This legislation will ensure that efforts to reduce drunk driving are not given short shrift. Almost 18,000 people died last year in alcohol-related motor vehicle traffic crashes, and we must not neglect the safety of our highways. This bill provides needed resources for law enforcement and will deter people from drinking and driving to begin with. Second, I am proud to introduce, along with Senator DeWine, legislation targeting higher-risk drivers.”