Other States are Considering Ignition Interlock Bills

Momentum is building for the use of ignition interlocks nationwide. A question from every astute legislator is always, “What is the rest of the country doing in regard to this issue?” Below is a summary addressing proposed legislation that has been published during the past week! To date, the Alaska Senate Finance Committee has not scheduled HB 19 for a hearing. I’m sure it will be – we can’t let Alaska fall behind on this issue, in spite of our 90-day Session!

The states of Washington and Missouri have both introduced bills before their legislature this year regarding the creation of special ignition interlock drivers’ licenses for DUI offenders. New Mexico legislature is considering tweaking their already well-developed ignition interlock law by increasing sanctions for tampering with the device. Wisconsin, a state known for less severe DUI sanctions, is considering for the first time, an ignition interlock requirement for DUI offenders versus the optional sanction in place currently. Hawaii, a state with no ignition interlock law at all, has introduced its very first bill this session.

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Over the weekend I attended a political fund raiser and heard comments from a new political committee formed to amend a DUI law. I took a brochure and it seems that there’s a large segment of the population that these DUI laws have let fall through the cracks. It seems that this committee is trying to pass a law that requires one of those breath devices in a car so it can’t be started. Anyway, there were all sorts of statistics for Illinois that were quite startling. It seems that there are literally thousands of DUI offenders driving out there without licenses or one of these breath devices. They had a website (http://www.amend625.org) and I went there. It is definitely worth a look.

Comment by windycityjohn — January 30, 2008 #

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Many states currently have statutes supporting the limited use of Ignition Interlock devices in one form or another. The recent movement, however, recognizes the advantages of I.I. devices for first-time offenders. Florida, for example, is considering current pending legislation that will mandate the installation of I.I. devices for first time offenders with an elevated Blood Alcohol Level of .15 (By the way, statistics show that first-time offenders will have driven up to 85 times while under the influence before getting caught the first time). If passed with the pending amemdment, this pending legislation would shorten the offender’s license suspension period to, perhaps, 30 days, after which an “Interlock Restricted” license would be issued, thereby avoiding a lengthy suspension period of up to one year for the offender.

Comment by Don Murray — January 31, 2008 #

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