Mothers Against Drunk Driving has named Sen. Mike Padden “Legislator of the Year” in recognition of his recent drive to strengthen state laws against driving under the influence.

“The improvements the Legislature made this year by passing my bill were a long time coming,” said Padden, R-Spokane Valley, who as chairman of the Senate Law and Justice Committee led a successful bid to clamp down on drunken driving, especially repeat DUI offenders. “At the same time, there’s a real commitment now to making more changes, and in a bipartisan way. No one wants to see more families across our state endure the suffering that so often results from alcohol abuse and DUI.

“Each life is very, very important, and DUI is such a preventable offense – it’s so senseless. These are very valuable lives, and if we can save them or prevent serious injuries then we’re doing something positive,” said Padden, who is known at the Capitol as a defender of life.

The national-level honor, presented at MADD’s Seattle headquarters Tuesday, comes four months after Padden’s comprehensive anti-DUI bill was signed after winning unanimous support from the Washington Legislature. Many of the changes it made took effect at the end of September, with others – such as the establishment of a 24/7 sobriety program – coming Jan. 1.

“We are already seeing results from the passage of new DUI laws, including greater judicial oversight on the use of ignition-interlock devices, which are highly effective tools in reducing impaired driving on our roadways,” said King County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg.

Padden also introduced an important improvement to the state’s law against boating under the influence; it too won legislative approval this year.

After co-chairing an impaired-driving task force that met during the summer and fall, Padden knows what he wants to pursue in 2014.

“One of the issues still needing legislative action is the penalty for repeat DUI convictions. I want to see the fourth DUI conviction treated as a felony, which means prison instead of jail and would bring Washington law closer to the other Western states,” said Padden, who handled countless DUI cases in a dozen years as a longtime Spokane County District Court judge.

Padden again acknowledged the five people who forced the Legislature to confront issues surrounding repeat DUI offenders: Dennis and Judy Schulte, their daughter-in-law Karina and grandson Elias, and Morgan Williams.

Dennis and Judy Schulte died on a Seattle street March 25, struck by the same pickup truck that critically injured their daughter-in-law and her then-10-day old son; Williams died April 5 from injuries sustained when a wrong-way driver struck her car on State Route 520 in Seattle. In both cases the drivers were accused of having been under the influence; what grabbed lawmakers’ attention was that both had recent DUI arrests, yet because their cases had not gone to trial the drivers had not been required to have alcohol-sensing ignition-interlock devices installed on their vehicles.

Padden also saluted MADD for its unending efforts to keep people from getting behind the wheel while under the influence.

“MADD’s involvement and support has been and will continue to be critical. I know I can count on MADD to be right there with us as we work to make our roads safer and reach Washington’s target of zero DUI-related fatalities,” Padden said.

Rep. Roger Goodman, D-Kirkland and chairman of the House Public Safety Committee, also was honored by MADD; Goodman had helped shepherd Padden’s legislation through the House of Representatives.

“Through the efforts of Representative Goodman and Senator Padden, loopholes in Washington’s DUI law are being closed making it more difficult for DUI offenders to slip through the cracks. As we move into a new year, MADD looks forward to continuing the momentum our state has taken in recent years with continuous improvements to Washington’s drunk driving laws,”” said Amy Lea Ezzo, MADD Washington State Manager.

(Photo courtesy of MADD: from left, Amy Lea Ezzo, MADD Washington state manager; Sen. Mike Padden; and Rep. Roger Goodman)