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- Introduced by Sen. Alan L. Cropsey (R) on September 9, 2009, to create a three-year DWI/sobriety court interlock pilot project for individuals convicted of two or more violations of operating a vehicle while intoxicated or while impaired. Offenders in the program could get a restricted license if they had an alcohol test locking device installed in their car.
- Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 9, 2009.
- Reported in the Senate on February 2, 2010, with the recommendation that the substitute (S-1) be adopted and that the bill then pass.
- Substitute offered in the Senate on February 4, 2010, to replace the previous version of the bill with one that revises details but does not change the substance of the bill as previously described. The substitute passed by voice vote in the Senate on February 4, 2010.
- Referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee on September 9, 2009.
- Passed 34 to 3 in the Senate on February 9, 2010.
Who Voted "Yes" and Who Voted "No" - Received in the House on February 9, 2010.
- Referred to the House Judiciary Committee on February 9, 2010.
Comments
1) Re: 2009 Senate Bill 794 (Create “sobriety court interlock project” pilot program ) by mwtrader3 on September 15, 2010Does this new pilot program allow past DUI offenders to enter into the program or is it for future convictions. Thank you.
Senator Thomas, under his constitutional right of protest (Art. 4, Sec. 18), protested against the passage of Senate Bill Nos. 794 and 795.
Senator Thomas’ statement is as follows:
I voted “no” on Senate Bill Nos. 794 and 795 not because I oppose sobriety courts. I think they are a wonderful idea, and anytime we can get Michigan citizens on the road to sobriety, I think that is a great idea. What troubled me most about the legislation is that the legislation allows restricted driver’s licenses to individuals who have demonstrated bad behavior and non-sobriety simply because they have enrolled in this program.
I think there are thousands of people across the state of Michigan who have been unable to pay driver responsibility fees, and they have also lost their licenses. They do not have a pathway towards getting a restricted driver’s license because they can go into some program. I think it would have been more appropriate after completion of the program; then you can look at whether or not a person should be eligible to drive.
Simply not allowing poor people who can’t pay the very, very excessive driver responsibility fees the opportunity to not get a restricted driver’s license, and almost rewarding those people who have multiple DUIs an opportunity to get a driver’s license just doesn’t seem to be the right path. It doesn’t seem to be fair. That is why I voted “no.”
Introduced in the Senate on September 9, 2009
The vote was 34 in favor, 3 opposed and 1 not voting
(Senate Roll Call 43 at Senate Journal 0)
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