State Sen. Leonidas P. Raptakis, D-Coventry, said he’s not surprised that Rhode Island ranks as one of the worst states in terms of curbing drunken driving, a designation given last week by the National Transportation Safety Board.

Saying the NTSB findings should be a “wake-up call for Rhode Island legislators,” Raptakis said yesterday that he plans to introduce three bills to address the problem.

They would require a license plate to be confiscated and impounded for up to 90 days if the owner of a vehicle is arrested for driving on a suspended license that was the result of an operating-under-the-influence charge, or for refusing to take a chemical breath test; extend what’s called a “look back” period for violations of driving under the influence from 5 years to 10, the amount of time the NTSB recommends; and increase the penalties for those convicted of driving under the influence, resulting in death or serious bodily injury.

Raptakis sponsored a bill last year that would have made it a felony to drive with a license that was suspended for driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or for refusing to take a chemical breath test. The bill cleared the Senate but died in the House Judiciary Committee.

“The fact that the House Judiciary Committee has become the graveyard of drunk-driving bills is a major concern,” Raptakis said in a news release issued yesterday. “The Rhode Island chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is calling for leadership on the issue, and it is time for House leaders to send a clear message to their constituents that they are willing to act in the best interest of Rhode Islanders by cracking down on drunk driving.”

The NTSB said last week that only three states –– Rhode Island, Michigan and Montana –– are doing little to curb drunken driving. Those states have enacted just 2 of 11 recommendations set forth by the NTSB to reduce alcohol-related crashes and fatalities.

kbramson@projo.com