Posted on 05/27/2010 8:02:11 AM PDT by VRWCmember
DALLAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ― North Dallas resident Micah Harleaux has nothing but fond memories of his best friend who was killed in a drunken driving accident.
"Carl was an extremely funny individual, he had a biting sense of humor," Harleaux said. "He was full of life."
Carl Lotspeich was killed nearly a year ago when a drunken driver slammed into the 25-year-old's car on the Dallas Tollway. The driver, who also died, was heading the wrong way.
"There are advancements in automobiles like seat belts and air bags to protect not only the driver but also those around them," Harleaux said. "I think this would be something that would be tremendous for the safety of every individual that gets behind a wheel."
He said he fully supports an amendment to the 2010 Motor Vehicle Safety Act, which calls for $40 million over the next five years to develop alcohol detection sensors. The amendment, which was proposed by Congressman John Sarbanes (D – MD.), could potentially lead to the sensors becoming standard equipment in just five to 10 years.
The sensors would not be replicas of the interlock devices that require convicted drunken drivers to blow into a tube to start their engines.
Several devices are being tested, including skin sensors. 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.
"What we're talking about here is Big Brother in your back seat," said Sarah Longwell, a spokeswoman with the American Beverage Institute.
The American Beverage Institute claims to represent 8,000 American restaurants. It calls the amendment unnecessary regulation from the federal government.
"There is a tremendous movement led my Mothers Against Drunk Driving and even some in the Federal Government who want to eliminate an American's ability to have a glass of wine at dinner or a beer at a ball game or even a champagne toast at a wedding and then drive home," Longwell said. "This technology is their way to do this."
The institute argues that the sensors would likely be set well below the legal limit of .08 for liability reasons. So even if a driver has just one drink, Longwell said, he or she will not be able to start their car.
Irving-based Mothers Against Drunk Drivers supports installing alcohol sensors in all vehicles.
“He was full of life.”
Now....not so much.
What about a marijuana sensor? What about a sensor for prescription drugs? What about a stuck on stupid sensor?
“Saw this story on the news. Before they even mentioned the name of the congressman pushing this idea, I knew it had to be a big government democrat.”
With a limo and a DRIVER...
yes, let’s just encourage all of our ‘representatives’ to pursue their own private causes...it’s the (un)-American way, isn’t it?.....I think we should all proceed on a national program to have any and all politicians spayed or neutered before taking office to ensure that no progeny like them follows...
thru gloves for those in colder climes? Idiotic Morons.
Do you have any idea what this would do to MA government?
The ghost of Teddy Kennedy is turning over in his grave at this gross intrusion into the civil liberties of all Americans!
Was the drunk driver an illegal?
“With a limo and a DRIVER...”
and the congressman is an alcoholic.
nope.
Cogress first. Bunch of drunks.
Heck this ought to make his gin-soaked corpse spin so fast you could attach a couple of wires to him and generate more power than all those windmills off of Nantucket Sound.
Why doesn’t this congressman just go to the source and push for the reinstitution of prohibition?
I'm guessing all the hand-sanitizer that got spread around during the swine flu epidemic would have brought the country to a stand still.
T-Paw (our GOP prez wannabe MN guv) just signed into law a ignition interlock for drunks.
Seems MADD has a lot of lobbyists.
There’s an idea. We should have these alcohol sensors installed at the doors and in each seat in the congress. There would never be another law passed ever.
“What about a stuck on stupid sensor?”
Good idea. It would go off every time a congressman got in.
Yep. Make them pass drunk tests to vote and there would be no votes.
and the congressman is an alcoholic.”
Heh heh ... that’s a given...
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