Public Policy

Public Policy

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a grassroots victim advocacy organization that also attempts to change the way our community views the crime of drunk driving. We do not employ a lobbyist to make changes in laws; however we do have a Public Policy Committee that is composed of volunteers interested in making laws stricter to help protect people in the community from having to deal with a tragedy.

Join MADD in supporting California Assembly Bill 1060 (De La Torre) to prohibit the sale of alcohol through self-service checkout stands, and require a face-to-face transaction for all alcohol sales.

AB 1060

Self-service checkout stands are becoming more and more prevalent at convenience stores throughout California. In fact, there are some stores that rely exclusively on a self-service check out system.

MADD is very concerned that these self-service checkout stands facilitate the purchase of alcohol by minors; permit intoxicated customers to purchase alcoholic beverages, and allow for greater theft of alcoholic beverages since there is often inadequate supervision.

We depend on our store clerks to prevent underage drinking by being trained to check for proper identification and assess a situation where the purchaser may be intoxicated.

With a self-service checkout system, there is often only one member of staff assigned to supervise multiple checkout stands. This is a system that invites abuse.

It is time that the state of California takes action and regulates the sale of alcohol through self-service checkouts so we can prevent underage drinking and protect our communities.

AB 91

Recently, California passed Assembly Bill 91, which establishes a pilot program in Sacramento, Alameda, Tulare, and Los Angeles Counties requiring any person convicted of a drunk driving offense to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicle for a specified period of time. This bill was pushed through the legislator with a coalition built by MADD California and other entities with the public’s safety in mind. We believe that mandatory ignition interlock devices for all persons convicted of drunk driving will save lives. New Mexico was the first state to pass a mandatory ignition interlock law and has seen an approximately 60% reduction in recidivism. Applying this same prevention effort to California’s vast population will ensure increased public safety.

MADD California’s volunteers work on a variety of laws aimed at promoting traffic safety and protecting the public from the violent crime of drunk driving.