Click on the map below to see what legislative activities We Save Lives is supporting in your state. From there, you can download and send a personalized letter to your representatives about the issues important to you. By participating, you will help pass legislation to keep our roads safe from drunk, drugged and distracted driving.
Thank you for your help in advocating for life-saving legislation in your state. Be sure to visit regularly to see updates on our progress and to support new legislative initiatives.
California
Drugged Driving
SB 65 - Modifies existing alcohol DUI statute and establishes new crime specific to marijuana-DUID.
Connecticut
Drugged Driving
HB 6518 - Bill to regulate the retail rale of marijuana; if passed it would require “roadside testing for impaired drivers and that driving under the influence laws apply when marijuana has been consumed in the previous two hours.”
District of Columbia
Drugged Driving
B 22-0030 - Bill to regulate the retail rale of marijuana; if passed it would require “roadside testing for impaired drivers and that driving under the influence laws apply when marijuana has been consumed in the previous two hours.”
Florida
Distracted Driving
CS/SB 144 - Use of Wireless Communications Devices While Driving
Illinois
Drunk Driving
SB 2191 - Creates the 24-7 Sobriety Pilot Program Act; provides for only a short title provision.
Iowa
Drunk Driving
Distracted Driving
SF 444 and HF 519 - "Use of Electronic Communication Devices While Driving"
Maryland
Drugged Driving
HB 1068 & SB972 - Bill establishes an oral fluid pilot program. Pilot jurisdictions will be chosen by the state DRE Coordinator through an application process. Oral fluid testing is limited to officers certified as DREs. Results from the pilot program will be presented to the General Assembly in 2019.
SB 229 - Bill increases the maximum period of imprisonment for homicide by vehicle while impaired by a controlled dangerous substance from 3 to 5 years for a first offense and from 5 to 10 years for a second and subsequent offense.
SB 974 -Bill modifies existing DUID statute. Adds language that makes it illegal to drive a vehicle while there is any detectable amount of a controlled dangerous substance or its metabolites in the person’s blood. Includes the caveat of “entitled to use” (affirmative defense for a valid prescription). The bill also establishes penalties – increases points on the license, establishes fines ($500-3,000), and establishes maximum periods of imprisonment (60 days to 3 years). If passed, this bill would move MD from an impairment-based state to a zero tolerance state.
Massachusetts
Drugged Driving
SD 67 - Bill modifies implied consent law to include cases of persons operating under the influence of drugs (adds ‘drugs’ to existing statute).
Mississippi
Drugged Driving
SB 2754 - Bill requires an appropriation of $250,000 be made to DPS for the purpose of defraying the costs of SFST training, ARIDE, and DRE certification.
New Hampshire
Drugged Driving
HB 656 - Bill seeks to legalize recreational marijuana. It adds the new offense of prohibiting consumption of marijuana while operating or driving a motor vehicle, boat, vessel, etc. For a first offense, a person may be fined not more than $500, or have his/her driver’s license suspended for six months, or both. For a second and subsequent offense, a person may be fined not more than $1,000 or have his/her license suspended for up to one year, or both.
New Jersey
Drugged Driving
AB 1263 - Bill establishes a ZT per se limit for driving under the influence of inhalants.
SB 1483 - Bill establishes a zero tolerance per se standard for driving while under the influence of drugs. Specifically, a person is deemed to be under the influence of an intoxicating narcotic, hallucinogenic, or habit-producing drug if there is any amount of a Schedule I, II, III, or IV chemical or controlled dangerous substance in the person’s blood, saliva, urine, or any other bodily fluid. It is an affirmative defense under the bill if the person charged with driving under the influence of a Schedule II, III, or IV controlled dangerous substance was issued a prescription by an authorized licensed health professional and injected, ingested, or inhaled the substance in accordance with the health professional’s directions. This defense is not available if the person was driving under the influence of a Schedule I drug. The bill also establishes that when a person provides a bodily fluid sample pursuant to this State’s driving under the influence law which contains any amount of a Schedule I, II, III, or IV chemical or controlled dangerous substance, or one of its metabolites or analogs, the person is guilty of possession of a controlled dangerous substance and is punishable under the State’s criminal code for the offense.
New York
Drugged Driving
AB 2513 & SB 889 - Bill modifies DWAI drugs and DWAI combination statutes to include the following language: No person shall operate a motor vehicle while the person's ability to operate such a motor vehicle is impaired by the use of a drug or inhalant or impaired by the voluntary ingestion of any other chemical, inhalant, pharmaceutical, or other impairing substance or combination of substances to the extent the driver is incapable of employing the physical and mental abilities they are expected to possess in order to operate a vehicle in a reasonable and prudent manner. Allows an affirmative defense in instances of allergic reaction and medical emergency.
AB 2530 & SB 364 - Bill adds 'saliva' language to implied consent statute.
Oregon
Drugged Driving
HB 2613 - Bill expands the offense of DUII to include any drug that adversely affects a person’s physical or mental faculties to a noticeable or perceptible degree.
HB 2614 - Bill adds blood to implied consent statute (Oregon currently relies on breath and urine testing). The bill would also add submission to a DRE evaluation to the implied consent statute.
SB 302 - Revises all DUII statutes to make specific mention of cannabis in addition to alcohol, controlled substances, and inhalants.
Pennsylvania
Drugged Driving
SB 38 - Bill adds saliva to testing statute to allow for the use of oral fluid at roadside. Also establishes new penalties for DUID - First offense: imprisonment of not less than 72 consecutive hours, fine of $1,000-5,000, attend an alcohol highway safety school, and comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements. Second offense: imprisonment of not less than 90 days, fine of at least $1,500, attend an alcohol highway safety school, comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements. Third offense: imprisonment of not less than one year, fine of not less than $2,500, comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements. Fourth and subsequent: imprisonment for a term of not less than two years, fine of not less than $5,000, comply with all drug and alcohol treatment requirements.
Rhode Island
Drunk Driving
South Dakota
Drunk Driving
H5151 - Provides for the use of mobile breath alcohol testing in the 24/7 sobriety program.
Texas
Distracted Driving
Virginia
Drugged Driving
HJ 578 - House Joint Resolution requiring a study on the long-term effects of cannabis use. Part of the study would be to determine whether, in states that have legalized or decriminalized the use of marijuana, changes have occurred in rates of DUI.