Posted on 06/11/2010 11:39:52 AM PDT by RC one
Personal responsibility just got thrown out the window — again — thanks to a nanny state congressman with hopes of saving ourselves and others from — you guessed it — us!
Rep. John Sarbanes (D-Md.) on Thursday, June 10, successfully attached an amendment to the Motor Vehicle Safety Act of 2010 that would “authorize $8 million in annual funding for five years for the Driver Alcohol Detection System for Safety (DADSS) program.”
The DADSS technology proposed in the ROADS SAFE amendment will likely lead to alcohol-sensing devices becoming mandatory factory-installed equipment on all automobiles within the next five-to-ten years, reports a Dallas, Texas CBS News affiliate.
“Several devices are being tested, including skin sensors,” CBS-11 revealed. “Just by touching the steering wheel or gear shift, the vehicle could conceivably determine the driver’s blood-alcohol level. Other ideas include installing sensors above the driver’s head or head rest that could test perspiration and breath samples.”
It probably will not surprise anyone to learn that federally subsidized and bailed-out General Motors is a chief supporter of the overbearing and intrusive Sarbanes amendment.
The American Beverage Institute (ABI), which represents over 8,000 American restaurants, is actively lobbying against the Sarbanes’ attempt to mandate alcohol detection devices in automobiles. A strong proponent of “hundreds of pieces of legislation to apprehend drunk drivers, increase penalties for those convicted, and continue to search for innovative new ways to combat the problem,” ABI expressed strong concern about developers of the devices intentionally designing them to render almost all drivers who’ve consumed a glass of wine or beer ‘over the limit.’
“For legal, liability, and even physiological reasons, in-car alcohol detectors would have to be set below the legal limit – most likely around 0.03-0.04. The head of the research project that this bill seeks to fund has even admitted that the devices would be set below the legal limit,” an ABI press release states. “This would effectively eliminate Americans’ ability to have a glass of wine with dinner, a beer at a ball game, or a champagne toast at a wedding and drive home.”
ABI Managing Director Sarah Longwell noted that countless responsible drivers would be unable to start their cars if Sarbanes’ proposed alcohol sensors became standard equipment, especially if they’re pre-set to levels well below the legal drinking blood alcohol level.
“Everyone opposes drunk driving, but putting alcohol detectors in all cars as standard equipment—set well below .08—would make all driving Americans guilty until proven innocent every time they started their cars,” Longwell said. “Alcohol detection technology is a great way to keep hard core drunk drivers—those who cause the vast majority of alcohol-impaired fatalities—from being able to start their cars while drunk. But we shouldn’t be developing this technology with the aim of putting it in everyone’s car.”
Could help to keep sotted politicians
off the road and out of Congress.
I don’t drink, but I like to wash my hands with beer before going for a drive - is this going to be a problem?
Could be a muslim thing...but, could just as easily be a stupid libtard, ‘save us from ourselves’ next step on the Mad March to marxism.
It’s time to take back the country.
Not if you wear a nice pair of leather driving gloves.
and a charcoal mask
how fantastic...For The Nannies Out There....
No one, of course, should be drinking in bars and those restaurants.... the food is so calorie heavy anyways - people should cook their own low-calorie meals and if they want alcohol they should drink at home - as long as only those that are present are over 21 - save the children and all that rot.....
Nanny has successfully halted smokers to enjoy a venue that a private business owner wanted to provide. Barely anyone fought it - nanny got their way - if this passes the whole hospitality industry might as well lock-up.
Well, except for ‘Taco Bell’- of course...
Wonder what those sensors would do if you had just cleaned your hands with one of those alcohol-based hand sanitizers or were taking a medication that contains a small amount of alcohol?
and don’t try to fuel your car with ethanol.
...or use any hand sanitizer
Rapists will seek women that had a margarita and are then stranded alone in their cars.
I’m SURE that there is an exemption for members of Congress, their friends, family and contributors.
We are all a DUI waiting to happen. Only the government can save us from ourselves.
This is just wrong and restricts liberty. again.
The goal of socialists is to get people out of cars and into public transportation. One stupid rule at a time.
Make the new cars unaffordable and inspect the old cars off the roads.
HAHAHAHAHAHA!
Heck, our draconian tobacco restrictions outSharia the Sharians.
One plank of Sharia, tobacco, is already in place.
Now to get the drinkers.
Don’t need no Muslims. The Carry Nation wing of Freerepublic will support this legislation with glee. After all;
to “driving is a privilege not a right”, they can now add
“whats good for GM is good for the country”.
I’m curious as to what the police, insurance companies, and the state are planning if marijuana is legalized in California. Anyone, for or against legalization, knows that smoking pot and then driving a car is unsafe. All of the tests, that I’m aware of, can’t/don’t measure the level of THC in the blood (similar to a breathalyzer.) Smoking pot 2 days prior to driving doesn’t impair driving and motor functions but smoking 2 hours prior to driving does. Anyone heard anything on this??? I think that this is one of the major questions that need to be answered before people vote.
B-b-but....you said you don't drink....and the beer is for sanitizing your hands.
Ooooh....you lied to me! =;^)
I knew you were going to drink the stuff.
New Mexico actually considered this garbage.
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