End Drunk Driving Act of 2019

To improve the safety of individuals by taking measures to end drunk driving. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the End Drunk Driving Act of 2019 2. Findings Congress finds the following: (1) Alcohol-impaired driving fatalities represent approximately one-third of all highway fatalities in the United States in a given year. (2) First offenders are responsible for approximately two-thirds of drunk driving arrests and one-third are from repeat offenders. (3) In 2017, there were 10,874 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities in the United States. (4) The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has partnered with automobile manufacturers to develop alcohol detection technologies that may be installed in vehicles to prevent drunk driving. (5) An estimated 59,000 lives and $343,000,000,000 may be saved over a 15-year period by the widespread installation of alcohol detection technologies in motor vehicles. 3. Advanced technology to end drunk driving (a) In general Not later than 10 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall issue a final rule prescribing or amending a Federal motor vehicle safety standard that would prevent operation of a motor vehicle when the operator is under the influence of alcohol. The standard shall— (1) prevent the operation of the motor vehicle if the operator’s blood alcohol content is above the legal limit; and (2) require such technology to be— (A) reliable and accurate; (B) set at the legal limit; (C) unobtrusive and fast; (D) tamper-proof/circumvention-resistant; (E) functionary in extreme environments (both hot and cold); and (F) easily maintained. 4. Use of ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat intoxicated driving (a) In general Chapter 1 171. Use of ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat intoxicated driving (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Alcohol concentration The term alcohol concentration (2) Driving while intoxicated; driving under the influence The terms driving while intoxicated driving under the influence (A) the blood alcohol concentration limit of the State in which the individual is driving; or (B) 0.08 percent. (3) Ignition interlock device The term ignition interlock device (A) requires a driver to provide a breath sample prior to the motor vehicle starting; and (B) prevents a motor vehicle from starting if the alcohol concentration of the driver is above the legal limit. (4) Motor vehicle (A) In general The term motor vehicle (B) Exclusions The term motor vehicle (i) a vehicle operated solely on a rail line; or (ii) a commercial vehicle. (b) Laws requiring ignition interlock devices A State meets the requirements of this subsection if the State has enacted and is enforcing a law that requires throughout the State the installation of an ignition interlock device for a minimum of 180 days on each motor vehicle operated by an individual who is convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence. (c) Withholding of funds for noncompliance (1) Fiscal year 2022 On October 1, 2021, the Secretary shall withhold 1 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to a State under each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 104(b) if the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. (2) Fiscal year 2023 On October 1, 2022, the Secretary shall withhold 3 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to a State under each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 104(b) if the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. (3) Fiscal year 2024 and thereafter On October 1, 2023, and on October 1 of each fiscal year thereafter, the Secretary shall withhold 5 percent of the amount required to be apportioned to a State under each of paragraphs (1) and (2) of section 104(b) if the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (b) of this section. (d) Period of availability of withheld funds; effect of compliance and noncompliance (1) Period of availability of withheld funds Any funds withheld under subsection (c) from apportionment to a State shall remain available for apportionment to the State until the end of the third fiscal year following the fiscal year for which the funds are authorized to be appropriated. (2) Apportionment of withheld funds after compliance If, before the last day of the period for which funds withheld under subsection (c) from apportionment are to remain available for apportionment to a State under paragraph (1), the State meets the requirements of subsection (b), the Secretary shall, on the first day on which the State meets the requirements of subsection (b), apportion to the State the funds withheld under subsection (c) that remain available for apportionment to the State. (3) Period of availability of subsequently apportioned funds Any funds apportioned pursuant to paragraph (2)— (A) shall remain available for expenditure until the end of the third fiscal year following the fiscal year in which the funds are so apportioned; and (B) if not apportioned at the end of that period, shall lapse. (4) Effect of noncompliance If, at the end of the period for which funds withheld under subsection (c) from apportionment are available for apportionment to a State under paragraph (1), the State does not meet the requirements of subsection (b), the funds shall lapse. . (b) Conforming amendment The analysis for chapter 1 171. Use of ignition interlock devices to prevent repeat intoxicated driving. . 5. Definitions In this Act, the following definitions apply: (1) Alcohol-impaired driving The term alcohol-impaired driving (2) Legal limit The term legal limit (A) 0.08 percent or greater (as specified in section 163(a) of title 23, United States Code); or (B) such other percentage limitation as may be established by applicable Federal, State, or local law.

Summary: End Drunk Driving Act of 2019 This bill directs the Department of Transportation (DOT) to implement federal motor vehicle safety standards that prevent operation of a motor vehicle when the operator is under the influence of alcohol. Such standards must prevent the operation of the motor vehicle if the operator's blood alcohol content is above the legal limit; and require, among other things, the technology to be reliable and accurate and easily maintained. DOT must withhold specified graduated percentages of a state's apportionment of federal-aid highway funds for FY2022-FY2024 (5% in each fiscal year thereafter) if the state has not enacted and is not enforcing certain laws to prevent repeat intoxicated driving. A state must require the installation of an ignition interlock device for a minimum of 180 days on each motor vehicle operated by an individual convicted of driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence.