Thu, 24 Feb 2011

4:58 AM - Ignition Interlock Devices Are Mandated More Frequently

Approximately 11,000 people in the U.S. die each year as a result of drunk driving accidents. All across the country states are cracking down on drunk drivers. Eleven states require that a mandatory ignition interlock device be installed on the vehicle of any person convicted of driving while intoxicated, even first-time offenders. The states who currently have such laws in place are: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois, Louisiana, Nebraska, New Mexico, New York, Oregon Utah, and Washington. More states are currently considering such legislation, including Texas, which, after California, has reported the highest amount of alcohol related fatalities. In California, first time offenders may be forced to get an ignition device if their blood alcohol content is above 0.15 percent - or double the legal limit.

 

Ignition interlock devices are installed on the dashboard of a convicted drunk driver. The driver must breathe into the device in order to start the car and the blood alcohol level must usually be between 0.02 percent and 0.04 percent. The driver must also periodically breathe into the device while driving, to ensure that another person doesn't breathe into the device to start the car and then let the intoxicated person drive away. If the driver fails to provide a sober breath sample, a car alarm will go off and will not stop until the car is turned off or a clean breath sample is recorded. Ignition interlock devices must be installed at the offender's expense and cost between $70 and $150. They are usually mandated for two to three years after the conviction.

 

In Los Angeles interlock devices are highly advocated by groups such as Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). According to MADD, simply suspending driving is ineffective, as driving is necessary for most people to get to work, or go to the grocery store, or doctors office. The inconvenience of not being able to drive generally outweighs the offender's fear of breaking the law, and 50 to 70 percent of drunk drivers with suspended licences are reported to drive anyway. With the use of an ignition interlock Los Angeles motor vehicle operators who have had drunk driving offenses are allowed to drive, so long as they prove they are sober enough to do so. While it is possible for a drunk driver to have someone else breathe into the device, or to borrow a car from someone without an ignition device installed, most states have strict penalties for anyone who helps a DUI offender in this way.

tags: interlock device ignition

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Thu, 24 Mar 2011

3:05 AM - Interlock Devices: Driving Under The Influence Of Good Habits

Edhat Santa Barbara News recently reports of the Oxnard Police Department Traffic Unit conducting a multi-location sobriety and driver's license checkpoint. Officers screened drivers to not only check for drivers who had been drinking alcohol, but also drivers in violation of failing to install a court-ordered ignition interlock device in their vehicles. Under specific circumstance when a defendant is found to be guilty of driving under the influence, the judge will order him or her to install an ignition interlock device in the vehicle to prevent another incident of drunk driving.
 
Out of the 1004 motorists who passed through the checkpoint locations, officers conducted two DUI investigations with drivers who had been drinking alcohol. As these drivers were found to have alcohol levels below the legal limit of .08, no DUI arrests were made. One vehicle was towed from the checkpoint when it was found that the operator did not have her ignition device installed.
 
Among the citations issued to drivers for other violations, 37 were for various drivers' license violations at the checkpoint, 25 drivers were issued citations for driving without a valid driver's license and 2 drivers were cited for driving with a suspended driver's license. Seventeen vehicles were towed from the checkpoint.  When a driver is required to install an ignition interlock device California law dictates that it must be present in the vehicle at all times.  Failure to do so can result in a number of punitive consequences including fines and/or jail time.
 
The Oxnard Police Department plans on conducting several more DUI enforcement operations this year. These DUI operations are an effort to reduce the number of alcohol related crashes and to make our roadways and community safer. We also remind people that if they see an impaired driver to dial 911, as this is considered to be an emergency. These DUI enforcement operations are funded by grants from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the National Highway Transportation Administration. For additional information on Los Angeles IID (ignition interlock devices), visit www.lsinterlock.com to learn more.  
 

tags: interlock device ignition

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