[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 1 (Tuesday, January 7, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E69]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              VEHICLE FORFEITURE FOR REPEAT DRUNK DRIVERS

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                          HON. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, January 7, 1997

  Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Speaker, as sure as we are standing here tragedy 
will strike again on America's roadways. Within the next few week there 
will be another national example where repeat drunk drivers lay carnage 
on our streets.
  Sadly, this is an all too frequent occurrence in our county. Over 
17,000 people a year are killed because of drunk driving and hundreds 
of thousands are injured.
  I have a long standing commitment to doing everything possible to 
stop people from getting behind the wheel after drinking too much. As a 
member of the Portland City Council, I introduced the first ordinance 
in the country to take away the cars of repeat drunk drivers. This law 
has had a dramatic effect.
  In Portland we have confiscated almost a thousand cars and forfeited 
almost a third of those. Most importantly it has made a difference in 
terms of repeat drunk driving.
  From 1994 to 1995, drunk driving deaths increased nationally. During 
that same time period, we saw a 42-percent decrease in these fatalities 
in Portland. Empirical studies show when you take away the car of the 
repeat drunk drivers it does get their attention, and the recidivism 
rate has dropped. This is a program that works.
  Today I am reintroducing what was my first piece of legislation as a 
Member of the U.S. Congress. Currently States must meet five of seven 
eligibility criteria to receive a share of the $25 million in Federal 
drunk driving counter measure grants. My proposal will add another 
criteria to choose from, a program to confiscate the cars of repeat 
drunk drivers, like we've done in Portland.
  I'm convinced that this simple step is going to move dramatically and 
spread the forfeiture concept around the country. Already, over 60 
cities and counties have requested information on our program.
  When so many issues pit one group against another, it is encouraging 
that taking away the cars of repeat drunk drivers has had such a broad 
coalition behind it. Law enforcement agencies, advocates like the 
Mothers Against Drunk Driving, beer and wine distributors, and others 
have all lent their support for Portland's program. I have begun to 
reach out to national coalitions and will continue to work with them on 
perfecting this bill.

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