MADD: Car-locking systems have stopped 1.77 million drivers

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Car-locking systems have stopped more than 1.77 million people from driving drunk since states first passed laws requiring offenders to install them in 1999, Mothers Against Drunk Driving said in a first-of-its-kind report on the devices nationwide.

A convicted drunken driver must blow into the device to get a blood alcohol content reading before the vehicle will start.

Every state has enacted some kind of ignition-interlock law, but some require the devices only for certain levels of offenses and blood alcohol levels, or give judges discretion.

"MADD knows ignition interlocks save lives, and they could save even more lives if every offender is required to use the device after the first arrest," said Colleen Sheehey-Church, MADD's national president.

At a news conference, Noah's father, Rich, advocated for legislation to tighten the law in Maryland, as he tearfully described the pain of losing his son, who police say was hit by a drunk driver with two previous convictions.