Tougher DUI Law Enforced

Exclaiming "In my opinion, this is the most important public safety legislation in a generation," Rep. Reed Hillman, R-Sturbridge, former head of the State Police, celebrated Massachusetts finally joining the rest of the nation in enacting a “.08 per se” law. MADD has ensured that a failed Breathalyzer test is now recognized as an objective measure of “impairment” for purposes of driving.

Prior to this legislation, signed into law by Lt. Gov. Healey on Monday June 30, 2003, juries were allowed to sift through information given at trial and reduce charges despite the results of a breath test. Breath tests have long been accepted as an accurate measure of the percentage of alcohol in the person's system. The new law also suspends for 180 days, the driver's license of anyone who refuses to take a Breathalyzer test, and doubles the fines for anyone convicted or pleading guilty of driving drunk to $250.