MADD Pushes For Tougher Drunk Driving Laws

One of the state’s leading groups working for tougher drunk driving laws sets its legislative agenda for the next General Assembly. The most frequently committed violent crime in the United States – drunken driving. So says Mothers Against Drunk Driving, which claims Missouri has a long way to go in effectively fighting drunk driving. State Executive Director Don Otto says Missouri needs a law making drivers safer – drunk or not. He says MADD will push for a tougher seat belt law in the 2003 legislative session. A primary seat belt law lets police stop motorists who are not buckled up. The law now says a person can be ticketed for not wearing a seat belt only if they also are ticketed for some other driving offense. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers gives Missouri a failing grade in reducing underage drinking and gives the state a grade of “C” overall in its efforts against drunks on the road.