River Crossing Strategy Group successfully passed three separate bills to strengthen New Jersey’s ignition interlock laws-nationally recognized as an effective tool to combat drunk driving.
Client Profile: Coalition of Anti-Drunk Driving Advocates
Safety and Advocacy for Empowerment (SAFE) and their coalition partner, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) to educate and build broad-based support for public policy reforms.
Problem: License suspension was viewed as the strongest and most effective anti-drunk driving policy.
- Political Perception: Despite research showing interlocks are more effective preventing repeat offenses, license suspension was still perceived as the default best policy.
- Implementation Challenges: The Covid-19 pandemic hindered early implementation and delayed measurable program results.
- Legal and Policy Challenges: Each legislative effort demanded rigorous legal analysis and a clear understanding of both the direct and indirect consequences.
Strategy: Education, Data-Driven Advocacy & Coalition Building
- Narrative Framing: Shifted the debate from punishment versus leniency to public safety versus outdated policy.
- Data Driven Advocacy: Leveraged effectiveness data, national research and success stories from other states to demonstrate that ignition interlocks save lives and reduce repeat offenses.
- Coalition Building: Mobilized respected anti-drunk driving advocates to directly engage through data and personal stories to build the credibility to change political perceptions.
