Mandatory Designated Driver Bill Will Not Be Pursued

It was a piece of legislation that was a good idea. It was a piece of legislation that had no chance of being passed or enforced. It is now a piece of legislation that will not be debated in the upcoming Louisiana legislative session. A bill that would require drinkers to show proof of a designated driver has been shelved by its author Representative Henry Burns.

While many people, myself included, love the idea of making designated drivers more the rule than the exception,the ability to show proof of that mandatory designated driver before the first drink was served was just not going to work. Since the burden would fall on bar owners and servers, there would simply not be enough manpower on hand actually run a business and abide within the confines of the law.

Representative Burns told the Louisiana Radio Network his reasons for deciding to back down on the this piece of legislation for this session.

"You don't want do something that's not enforceable. At this point, I haven't really seen the dynamics for it to be a good smooth, transition,"

Burns said he filed the bill after having talks with families who have lost loved ones due to the carelessness of drunk drivers.

Since filing of the bill was announced the legislation has been scrutinized for its inability to actually be enforced. That enforcement issue appeared to be the determining factor in the decision not to pursue the legislation. The next session of the Louisiana legislature will convene next Monday April 13.