[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 9 (Wednesday, February 2, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Page S887]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CORZINE (for himself and Mr. Lautenberg):
  S. 257. A bill to amend title 23, United States Code, to provide 
grant eligibility for a State that adopts a program for the impoundment 
of vehicles operated by persons while under the influence of alcohol; 
to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
  Mr. CORZINE. Mr. President, this legislation addresses the serious 
national problem of drunk driving by helping to ensure that when 
drunken drivers are arrested, they can't simply get back into their car 
and put the lives of others in jeopardy. This is based on original 
legislation, known as ``John's Law,'' that I introduced in the Senate 
in the 108th Congress and that has already been enacted at the State 
level in New Jersey. I am proud that Senator Lautenberg will be co-
sponsoring this legislation.
  On July 22, 2000, Navy Ensign John Elliott was driving home from the 
United States Naval Academy in Annapolis for his mother's birthday when 
his car was struck by another car. Both Ensign Elliott and the driver 
of that car were killed. The driver of the car that caused the 
collision had a blood alcohol level that exceeded twice the legal 
limit.
  What makes this tragedy especially distressing is that this same 
driver had been arrested and charged with driving under the influence 
of alcohol, DUI, just three hours before the crash. After being 
processed for that offense, he had been released into the custody of a 
friend who drove him back to his car and allowed him to get behind the 
wheel, with tragic results.
  We need to ensure that drunken drivers do not get back behind the 
wheel before they sober up. With this legislation, States would be 
allowed to use some of their drunk driver prevention grant money from 
the Federal Government to impound the vehicles of drunk drivers for no 
less than 12 hours. This would help ensure that a drunk driver cannot 
get back behind the wheel until he is sober. And that would make our 
roads safer, and prevent the loss of many innocent lives.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 257

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``John's Law of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. ALCOHOL-IMPAIRED DRIVING COUNTERMEASURES.

       Section 410(b)(1) of title 23, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(H) Program for impoundment of vehicles.--A program to 
     impound a vehicle for no less than 12 hours that is operated 
     by a person who is arrested for operating the vehicle while 
     under the influence of alcohol.''.
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