2019: The Year in Review
Each year we wrap up our activities with a look back to review the laws passed, the trends we saw and the programs we implemented with partners. 2019 was a year of transition for Responsibility.org with a new Executive Director, a new CEO and many new activities. We hope you enjoy our End of Year report!
Legislatively speaking, 59 impaired driving bills been signed into law in 34 states and new underage drinking prevention laws were passed in four states. As 2020 begins, new impaired driving prevention laws will take effect on January 1st in Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Nevada and Oregon regarding impaired driving prevention. Details are contained within the report.
The most prevalent legislative trends this year were the use of technology to manage impaired drivers including the use of ignition interlocks and new BAC and drug test technologies, enhanced penalties for high-risk impaired driving offenders and countermeasures to address the growing problem of drug and polysubstance-impaired driving.
Each year Responsibility.org works with policymakers and their staffs to introduce and advocate for effective legislative solutions to impaired driving and underage drinking. We always enjoy partnering the state attorneys general to prevent underage drinking.
Our work with the Governors Highway Safety Association continued for a 5th year with drug-impaired driving enforcement grants in Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada and South Dakota to increase the number of law enforcement officers trained to detect signs of drug impairment. We also teamed up with the National Sheriffs Association once more to conduct similar trainings.
We also enjoyed partnering with criminal justice groups such as the American Probation and Parole Association, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, the National Center for DWI Courts, National District Attorneys Association, the National Sheriffs Association, our Judicial Advisory Board and our many traffic safety partners.
Thank you to our partners for making 2019 so successful! We look forward to an exciting year ahead!
