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  • PHOTO PROIVDED Members of the Swezey family observe proceedings Tuesday from the gallery in the Senate chamber. The Senate passed the anti-drunken driving bill named after their daughter 45-0. It now heads to the House.

    Swezey family at CapitolA.jpg

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March 16, 2011

Senate passes Erin Swezey Act

The Edmond Sun

EDMOND — State senators Tuesday unanimously passed anti-drunk driving legislation named after an Edmond woman.

Senators approved 45-0 Senate Bill 529, authored by Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond. The Erin Elizabeth Swezey Act is named after the 20-year-old Edmond woman killed by a drunk driver in 2009.

On April 4, 2009, Swezey, an architectural design and music student at Oklahoma State University, was hit and killed by a drunk driver whose blood alcohol content was more than three times the legal limit. The driver, a 32-year-old metro man, had just rear-ended another car. In an attempt to flee that accident, he turned his vehicle around and began driving over 100 miles per hour on the wrong side of the Kilpatrick Turnpike, hitting Swezey’s car head-on. He also died in the collision.

Under SB 529, anyone convicted of DUI would be required to have an ignition interlock device for two years on their first offense, five years on the second offense, and eight years on all subsequent offenses. In addition, the words “DUI conviction” would be on their driver’s license during the period the interlock device is required.

Senate Bill 529 now heads to the House. If the Erin Elizabeth Swezey Act is passed by the Legislature and signed into law by the governor it would take effect Nov. 1.

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