Steve Archambault, a Democratic candidate for Attorney General, today unveiled a 4 point plan to better combat Rhode Island ’s serious drunk driving problem. Archambault said, “Too many people die or are injured every year due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We must step up our efforts to address this serious problem..”   In Rhode Island , nearly 4-in-10 traffic fatalities are caused by people driving under the influence, as are far too many serious injuries. Fatalities due to drunk driving have increased over the past couple of years.

Archambault’s plan includes the following:

• Making it a felony punishable up to 4 years in prison for driving under the influence with a child 15 or under in the car.  Penalties would be increased significantly if the child is injured or killed. This proposed law is based on one recently passed by the state of New York .
• Requiring an interlock device to be installed after a first offense if the blood alcohol content (b.a.c.) is .15 or above and after all second offenses.  This device acts as an alcohol breathalyzer and requires drivers to prove they are sober before the engine will start. .Intermittent checks of the device would also be included.  A recent study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety found that repeat drunk driving offenses dropped by 65% when interlock devices were installed.
• Requiring mandatory alcohol and drug counseling classes for any reckless driving offense in which the use of alcohol or drugs is present.. Even in cases where people are under the legal limit the use of alcohol can contribute to driving recklessly.
• Adding a drug recognition component to the training Rhode Island police officers receive in order that they are better trained to detect people driving while under the influence of drugs.

Steve Archambault said, “Taken together, these four proposals will better equip us to combat the serious problem of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. As Attorney General, I will work for the enactment of this plan and I will use every tool in the tool box to reduce drunk driving and save lives.”

Archambault, who serves as a Councilman in Smithfield , would bring a broad legal background to the Attorney General’s office.  His experience as a police officer, local Prosecutor and defense attorney gives him a first-hand understanding of all elements of the criminal justice system.