Ignition interlock bill draws support

Jefferson City

Get drunk...get caught.....Missouri's legislature could be fast-tracking a law that won't let you drive again if you have booze on your breath.

The proposal says a convicted drunk driver has to do a so-called 30-day hard walk before applying for a hardship driving permit...and the permit will be granted only if an ignition interlock is installed The driver has to blow into a tube...and if the blood alcohol level is greater than point-zero-two, the car won't start.

Spokesman Michael Bowman for the Missouri chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving says the interlock is important because police catch only about ten percent of the drunk drivers. He calls the ignition interlock "a 24-hour probation officer" that will keep once-convicted drunk drivers from driving again. More >>

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Kansas City Police Chief wants to fire cop who caused 2 drunk driving crashes

Kansas City, MO

Kansas City Police Chief Jim Corwin has moved to fire an officer who allegedly caused two alcohol-related wrecks while off duty.

Corwin filed paperwork Thursday to terminate Adrian Reyes, 34, a Metro Patrol Division officer hired in 2003. Corwin cited violations of the department’s ethics code and rules of conduct in the Aug. 24, 2005, and Sept. 6, 2007, wrecks.

The department scheduled a board hearing for Reyes for Jan. 22. The board makes the final decision on terminations.

The first wreck was a hit-and-run, according to police records. The records said Reyes “was untruthful to the investigating officers, stating he was not operating the vehicle and that he had not been drinking.”

A witness, however, identified Reyes as the driver, the records said. Reyes’ blood-alcohol content reportedly registered at 0.20, more than twice the legal limit, police records say. Officers ticketed Reyes. The case is now a closed record, so the disposition is unavailable. The department suspended Reyes for 22 days.

In the second wreck, Reyes’ ran into a traffic pole at 2:15 a.m. at Front Street and Interstate 35. He had consumed alcohol, according to police records, and was “uncooperative … and gave untruthful information about the circumstances.”

According to the accident report, Reyes told police he was a passenger. When the officer asked several times who was driving, Reyes allegedly said, “Let’s just say a friend.” Reyes was listed as the vehicle’s owner, according to the report

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Kansas City, MO cop under investigation after drunk driving allegations

Kansas City, MO

He's sworn to "protect and serve," but a Kansas City, Missouri cop said he could be fired for what investigators said he did off the job with alleged DUI and DWI cases.

34 year-old Adrian Reyes is in the hot seat after KCMO Police accuse him of driving under the influence in August of 2005 and in September of 2007.

Kansas City, Missouri Police Chief James Corwin is calling on the Board of Police Commissioners to fire Officer Adrian Reyes. Corwin cites more than a half dozen code of ethics and conduct violations against Reyes stemming from the two incidents. More >>

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Greene County DWI Court now a training ground for national DWI courts

Springfield, MO

They would serve their sentence and all too often people convicted of drinking and driving would do it again.

In 2003, Greene County began a DWI court that has been successfully preventing repeat offenses ever since.

Monday, in a special ceremony at Cox Medical Center North, the National Drug Court Institute named it an academy court, a training ground for courts across the country looking to implement similar programs. More >>

Springfield, MO DWI lawyers

Greene County DWI Court to train other DWI Courts

Springfield, MO / Greene County, MO

The Greene County DWI Court is being named as an Academy Court to serve as a training site for other cities and counties interested in establishing DWI courts, county officials said today.

National Drug Court Institute Director Carolyn Hardin will make the announcement at a news conference at 11:30 a.m. Monday.

The Greene County DWI Court is one of four Academy Courts named nationwide this year by the drug court institute in partnership with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA. As an academy court, it will serve to illustrate best practices and provide technical assistance to other cities and counties. More >>

Gov. Blunt calls for mandatory ignition interlocks for repeat drunk drivers

Branson, MO

Gov. Matt Blunt wants to make it harder for potentially drunk drivers to get behind the wheel of their automobile.

Blunt announced earlier this week his plan to better protect Missourians from drunk drivers, requiring repeat DWI offenders to modify their vehicles before they can be issued new licenses.

“To protect Missouri families and ensure our roads are as safe as possible, drunk driving offenders simply should not be allowed to get behind the wheel without some assurance they are fit to drive. My plan to toughen our drunk driving laws ensures 100 percent of repeat offenders will not be given the privilege to drive without first taking serious precautions to prevent them from again drinking and driving and endangering Missourians.” -- Gov. Matt Blunt

Blunt is calling for legislation to require drunk driving offenders to modify their vehicle ignition switches before their driver license is reinstated. Under current law courts are required to mandate ignition interlock devices, a vehicle modification system that disables a vehicle’s ignition if the driver is drunk or drinking, on the second or subsequent offense. More >>

Blunt: Courts Failing To Enforce DUI Law

Jefferson City, MO

Gov. Matt Blunt said judges are not doing a good enough job of enforcing Missouri's drunken driving laws. So he proposed Thursday to give more power to the state agency that issues driver's licenses.

A 2001 law requires courts to order ignition interlock devices on vehicles for people convicted of two or more drunken driving offenses. The devices prohibit a vehicle from starting unless the driver blows into a special gauge without registering alcohol on his or her breath.
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Blunt says that in 2005, there were 3,163 people convicted of repeat drunken driving offenses. But he said courts ordered ignition interlock devices for just 614 of them.

"Unfortunately, Missouri courts have a lackluster record in complying with this requirement," Blunt said at a Capitol news conference. More >>

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