Bill > HR2788

This bill seeks to establish a national standard for preventing driving while intoxicated (DWI) by requiring states to mandate ignition interlock devices for DWI offenders or face financial penalties. Specifically, starting in fiscal year 2027, states that do not implement a law requiring DWI offenders to use ignition interlock devices (which prevent a vehicle from starting if the driver fails a breathalyzer test) for at least 180 days will have 3% of their federal highway funding withheld, increasing to 5% in subsequent years. The bill is motivated by alarming statistics from Mothers Against Drunk Driving and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, which show a significant increase in alcohol-impaired driving fatalities, with one person dying in a DWI crash every 39 minutes and 13,384 people killed in 2021. Studies cited in the bill indicate that ignition interlocks can reduce recidivism by up to 70%, and they are already required in 31 states and the District of Columbia. The legislation also addresses the growing concern of polysubstance impaired driving, with a 2018 study from Washington State revealing that 44% of drivers involved in fatal crashes tested positive for two or more substances, most commonly alcohol and THC.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/2788/all-info