States change their laws so repeat drunk drivers have ignition interlocks installed

[Genestho]

Lautenberg Measure To Help Reduce Repeat Drunk Driving Crashes Becomes Law, USA
Main Category: Alcohol / Addiction / Illegal Drugs
Article Date: 25 Jun 2008 - 2:00 PDT


Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) announced a measure he wrote to reduce drunk driving crashes and make our nation's roads safer is now law. The measure will require states to change their laws so repeat drunk drivers will have ignition interlocks installed on their cars and trucks. These devices prevent a car or truck from starting if a tube connected to a sensor detects alcohol on the driver's breath.

"Drunk driving remains an epidemic, as the thousands of American families who lose a loved one every year in a fatal crash involving alcohol know first-hand. Armed with the latest technology, we are making our roads safer and saving American lives," Senator Frank R. Lautenberg said. "Our law will not affect social drinkers-it is aimed squarely at drivers who repeatedly demonstrate they are too drunk to drive."
The Lautenberg measure was included in legislation signed by President Bush on June 6, which made technical corrections to the 2005 "SAFETEA-LU" highway bill. Research shows that use of ignition interlocks are more likely to deter repeat drunk driving than simply suspending one's license.

"Interlocks work and would have prevented my son Courtney's death if mandated in 1988," said Glynn Birch, MADD national president. "They are up to 90 percent effective in reducing repeat offenses and eight states currently have interlocks mandated for all convicted drunk drivers-we are working with the other 42 to increase the interlock sanction and in a couple to advocate for an interlock law that doesn't even exist."

In the original 2005 SAFETEA-LU bill, Lautenberg authored provisions which allowed federal grants to states which pass tougher penalties for drivers with very high blood-alcohol levels-.15 percent, which is nearly twice the current legal limit. The Senator also wrote a measure to require a study about the fairness of laws which allow a drunk driver to avoid penalties by refusing to take a blood alcohol test, even for fatal crashes.

Lautenberg, chairman of the Surface Transportation Subcommittee on the Senate Commerce Committee and the Transportation Safety Subcommittee on the Environment and Public Works Committee, is one of the Senate's leaders on transportation safety initiatives, including:

- The law encouraging states to set the minimum drinking age at 21.

- Laws requiring states to set the maximum Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) levels to .08, preventing hundreds of drunk driving deaths per year.

- An amendment approved in 2003 by the Senate Commerce Committee on truck safety, which prompted the trucking industry to agree not to pursue using heavier, longer trucks on the nation's roads for the next six years.

- An amendment approved by the Senate to require the Federal Aviation Administration to bring airport runways up to safety standards, following incidents at New Jersey's Teterboro Airport and other airports nationwide.

- A bill that was unanimously approved by the Senate Commerce Committee to reauthorize the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The Senator's bill would improve railroad safety (hours of service, grade crossing safety and new safety technology) and authorize appropriations for FRA programs, research and development and grants for six years.

http://lautenberg.senate.gov/

[Tank]

It should be done after the first time - lets not give them a chance to be repeat offenders - and make it illegal for them to drive ANY other car without one installed.

AND make them pay for the (hopefully expensive) installation of the kit.

Consequences for actions.

[Genestho]

It should be done after the first time - lets not give them a chance to be repeat offenders - and make it illegal for them to drive ANY other car without one installed.

AND make them pay for the (hopefully expensive) installation of the kit.

Consequences for actions.

Agreed, totally.

In sweden all auto's are coming out factory fitted with IID's in all new autos by 2012, and alot of states in USA are looking at using these devices on first time offenders, in particular New Mexico who already, have been using these devices 10 years on recidivists, from 2009 they will be used on first time offenders.

The way it appears to work in Australia, and USA, is user pays installation, maintenance and circumvention.

The right to drive is earnt back, with appropriately monitored treatment completed and penalties attached to orginal offence, there are penalties for circumvention and driving without these devices installed...

One of the purposes of the section 65 review of Land Transport Act is to look at research and studies completed of IID's world wide and Australia and look at the implementation of them on recidivists...its a start..

[alanzs]

Great idea. Take drunk driving seriously, for all of our sakes.

[imdying]

A lot of effort for fuck all gain. Do it once, do it right... permanent ban, and apply it backwards to anyone who has ever been caught.

[scumdog]

Speaking of the '21 as the legal drinking age' thing, at college last week a very wise man explained WHY those under 21 are so badly affected by alcohol, made bloody sobering viewing I must say..

[sidecar bob]

A lot of effort for fuck all gain. Do it once, do it right... permanent ban, and apply it backwards to anyone who has ever been caught.

Thats fine to say, & i agree with you fully, But how does it get enforced? by pulling up every car every day & checking them.
The interlock device is the equivalent of having Scumdog sitting alongside every repeat drunk driver that has been convicted & making them blow in the alcatec every time they drive.
Saves scummy a lot of time & makes these idiots think just a bit when they get behind the wheel.

[KiwiRat]

Speaking of the '21 as the legal drinking age' thing, at college last week a very wise man explained WHY those under 21 are so badly affected by alcohol, made bloody sobering viewing I must say..

Enlighten us if you could.

[scumdog]

Enlighten us if you could.

It is long-winded and complicated but it involves the still-developing brain and chemicals that involve developement of the young nervous system and how chemicals including alcohol affect this..

[awayatc]

good idea.....
And also penalties should hit where it hurts....
what about losing vehicle if pulled over second time over the limit..?
Losing permanently..not just impounding....

[Genestho]

A lot of effort for fuck all gain. Do it once, do it right... permanent ban, and apply it backwards to anyone who has ever been caught.

I can only speak for the situation which slammed into and killed my husband and two friends and himself, and traumatised three children for life, the driver was drunk, and had been caught four times previously, he was "Indefinately Disqualified" had been for 7 years..fancy speak for..... permanently banned.

The only way a permanent ban can work beyond a piece of paper, which is not available to us, is to grab this bunch, chuck em in jail, and promptly throw the key over the Harbour Bridge...

[Genestho]

It is long-winded and complicated but it involves the still-developing brain and chemicals that involve developement of the young nervous system and how chemicals including alcohol affect this..

Scary ay? Im just reading up about alcohol related harm stuff too, once you get into it all, such a huge umbrella, the harm its causing right accross the board is astounding..

[slimjim]

cool.......................... they fit airbags ,

[imdying]

Thats fine to say, & i agree with you fully, But how does it get enforced? by pulling up every car every day & checking them.
The interlock device is the equivalent of having Scumdog sitting alongside every repeat drunk driver that has been convicted & making them blow in the alcatec every time they drive.
Saves scummy a lot of time & makes these idiots think just a bit when they get behind the wheel.

This stops them driving any one of a number of different cars how?

[Genestho]

These are very comprehensive devices and are far more advanced than they have ever been, with data logged and depending on how this is setup this is an immediate stop to a drunk driver.

If these devices are implemented the way the States and Australia do, then the penalties for driving a car without a device fitted - absolutely have to back the consequences, and reflect any circumvention attempts.

If studies of these devices show a reduction in recidivism ranging from 40-90% it seems a far better option than to do nothing at all, as we do currently...