Feds Push for Law That Would Mandate Interlock Devices

 Posted on July 20,2014 in Criminal Defense

Under the proposal by New York Democrat Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey, states that fail to enact the law by the deadline of October 1, mandating all DUI offenders to have these devices installed in their vehicles, would suffer a cut in their highway transportation funding.

Motorists in four California counties-Los Angeles, Sacramento, Almeida and Tulare - are already familiar with a program like this. Under the pilot program, which was kicked off in 2010, even an offender who is convicted of a first-time DUI, is required to install certified ignition interlock devices in each vehicle that he owns or operates.

An ignition interlock device is a device that is connected to the ignition of the car. The device takes a breath sample from a person before he begins driving. It detects the alcohol content in the breath, and if it detects alcohol content above a predetermined limit, it will shut down the ignition, and the engine will not start. As the person drives, the device will continue to ask for samples to reduce the risk that the driver will consume alcohol as he is driving.

Through the pilot program that began on July 1, 2010, and will continue through December 31, 2015, any person convicted of a DUI in all of these four counties must get the device installed in all their vehicles. The minimum number of months the device must be installed is five months, and the maximum is 36 months for convictions of 4 or more DUI offenses. California already has some of the country's most stringent laws against drunk driving, and those laws are only getting tougher. If you are arrested for DUI, speak with a DUI attorney to protect your rights.