Md. looks to close drunk driving, teen drinking loopholes

ANNAPOLIS, Md. -- A series of bills before Maryland lawmakers aims to close huge loopholes related to drunk driving and underage drinking -- loopholes about which prosecutors and activists have long complained.

At a hearing before a Senate committee in Annapolis, witnesses testified to the weaknesses in current law.

When officers get to the scene of crashes -- even fatalities, "there's no requirement to give breathalyzer tests," says Prince George's County State's Attorney Glen Ivey.

Administering a breathalyzer on site is up to the discretion of the officer on the scene.

Under a bill being supported by Gov. Martin O'Malley's Task Force to Combat Driving Under the Influence of Drugs and Alcohol, police would be required to request that the driver submit to a breathalyzer.

But as Ivey points out, that's just a request. Even under the new bill, the findings of the test would not be admissible in court. Ivey explains Senate Bill 260 would be used to collect data that could be used to expand the testing.

"I think this bill would be a step in the right direction," Ivey says.

Another bill from the task force would require a one-year license suspension for repeat drunken drivers, if the second violation falls within five years of the first.

Other bills give judges less leeway on granting probation before judgment.

Danielle Roeber with the National Transportation Safety Board points out a weakness in laws on underage drinking in Maryland.

"Maryland prohibits possession, but if the person's already consumed the alcohol and gets rid of the can, you can't arrest them."

Roeber would like to see the laws on underage drinking include a provision to suspend a teenager's license.

"There's nothing that's going to matter more to a teenager than losing the license they waited so long to get," Roeber says.

Another bill would make it a criminal offense to buy booze for underage drinkers.

The bills heard before a Senate committee Tuesday, will be heard by a Maryland House panel Wednesday.

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