Question: What is your reaction to the newspaperıs statistical findings on suspended drivers? Are these findings alarming? Are they surprising?
Answer: "The numbers are certainly higher than we would like to see. However, it's not surprising that historically bad drivers are involved in serious accidents. A considerable number of the individuals suspended have been suspended for underlying motor vehicle violations or driving-related offenses. What's interesting is that there are many people who have suspended licenses for non-driving offenses, and I'm not certain how that factors in to your information."
Q: Do you think that the state can or should do more to keep suspended drivers off the road?
A: "The state has made great strides in recent years to stop suspended drivers from driving on Maine's roadways. With the enactment of Tina's Law and the increased access state police have to criminal history records with the new mobile data terminals installed in cruisers, we have seen a sharp increase in the number of drivers being arrested for (operating after suspension)offenses. There is always room to improve our efforts, but the state police are clearly dedicated to this effort and will continue to crack down on suspended drivers."
Q: Have you made any assessment about the effectiveness of Tina's Law?
A: "Tina's Law was signed into law in April 2006. It's difficult to know for sure this early how effective the law will prove to be. Imposing harsher penalties, though, has been shown to have a deterrent effect. As time passes and Tina's Law is used to impose more increased sentences, we will be able to look at the numbers and really see what kind of impact the law is having on individual behavior. I believe it's a good law, and I believe it will make a difference."
Q: Can the state take steps to raise awareness about the problem among members of the public, so that they might be more likely to report suspended drivers or prevent them from getting behind the wheel?
A: "Since the enactment of Tina's Law, more attention is being paid by the press to accidents and arrests involving suspended drivers. The Department of Public Safety issues a newsletter each week that is distributed across the state, and it often includes information about the number of individuals arrested that week for OAS offenses. When this information is picked up by the media, it catches the public's attention, and hopefully causes some individuals to think about the ramifications of driving with a suspended license. Your newspaper's project shows that there is already a lot of interest in people who drive with suspended licenses."
Q: Are there any specific policy measures that you would support to combat this problem? Some of the measures that have been implemented elsewhere are impounding vehicles driven by suspended drivers; installing ignition interlock devices on vehicles operated by drunk drivers, as is currently being proposed in Maine in a bill sponsored by Sen. Lynn Bromley; and sending suspension notices by certified mail, so that suspended motorists are more likely to receive them.
A: "I will certainly consider all these ideas. I am looking forward to learning more about Sen. Bromley's bill and finding out what effect the ignition interlock devices have had in the states that use them. We also have to be mindful during these difficult budget times about changes in the law that might have significant costs to the state. Nonetheless, I remain committed to taking additional steps to make it harder for people to drive with suspended licenses."
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