Citing his extraordinary efforts to eliminate drunk driving, underage drinking and distracted driving in Rhode Island, the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility recently presented Attorney General Peter F. Kilmartin with a 2014 Leadership Award. Remarking on his accomplishments, the organization said that Attorney General Kilmartin has made it a priority to prevent underage drinking for many years through various efforts, including public service announcements and program events across the state. According to the organization, Kilmartin was also honored for his focus on the broader issue of teen driver safety with the "It Can Wait" campaign throughout the school year.
This year, Attorney General Kilmartin championed the successful passage of legislation mandating the use of ignition interlocks for DUI offenders. His efforts have raised public awareness on the importance of these issues and led to expanded programs throughout Rhode Island.
In addition, Kilmartin has strongly advocated for stiffer penalties for DUI offenders. For the past four years, he has submitted legislation that would increase the "look back" period on repeat alcohol-related offenses to ten years and legislation that would increase the imprisonment sanctions for driving to endanger and DUI offenses that result in injury and death.
"Education and enforcement are critical to the success of curbing impaired and distracted driving. I have made it a top priority of my administration to keep drivers – especially young drivers – safe on our roads," said Attorney General Kilmartin. "Our success is a credit to the collaborative approach we have taken in partnering with law enforcement, the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, Mothers Against Drunk Drivers and others to share the message of sober and responsible driving. This coming year, I look forward to working with the General Assembly to continue to strengthen our DUI laws and make Rhode Island roads the safest in the nation."
"Attorney General Kilmartin has been a tireless advocate for the people in Rhode Island," said Ralph Blackman, president and CEO of the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility. "We can't thank the Attorney General enough for his dedication and leadership to prevent drunk driving and underage drinking by sending a clear and consistent message that it is illegal and will not be tolerated. We look forward to continuing to work to save lives in the future with Attorney General Kilmartin."
Earlier this year, Kilmartin was also awarded a Legislative Appreciation Award from Mothers Against Drunk Drivers for his work on ignition interlock legislation and other legislative initiatives.