From Parade Magazine comes this quick survey about the use of vehicle ignition interlocks for people convicted of drunk driving. Visit the link to vote in the survey. Here are the details:
Drunk drivers kill about 13,000 Americans each year and injure hundreds of thousands more. Now,
California and Wisconsin are considering new laws that would require people convicted of drunk
driving to use a technology called an ignition interlock. Drivers blow into a device that measures
blood-alcohol content. If the level is too high, the car will not start. Fourteen states already
routinely use the technology, which experts say can reduce subsequent drunk-driving offenses by up
to 64%.
California and Wisconsin are considering new laws that would require people convicted of drunk
driving to use a technology called an ignition interlock. Drivers blow into a device that measures
blood-alcohol content. If the level is too high, the car will not start. Fourteen states already
routinely use the technology, which experts say can reduce subsequent drunk-driving offenses by up
to 64%.
Critics say that manufacturers
of the devices—for which convicted drunk drivers must pay up to $110 a month—have aggressively
lobbied to make the units mandatory to increase profits. But law-enforcement officials say ignition
interlocks work. “When the device is on, you see a decrease in repeat offenders,” says Barbara
Lauer of Florida’s Department of Motor Vehicles. “Once it’s off, the numbers go right back up.”
I saw this at my school. Someone doesn’t die every 15 minutes form drunk driving incident. Drunk driving is now described as “Hardcore of Alcoholics who don’t respond to public appeal” says former MAD president Katherine Prescott. Drunk driving is now less of a problem than 25 years ago. It made me think that prohibition saved lives! Prohibition ruined more lives than saved! Most fatalities occur with the drunk driver him/herself. NOBODY DRIVES DRUNK ANYMORE BUT HARDCORE ALCOHOLICS!
That’s one way of looking at it, the other is the 60% is caused by bad roads, bad drivers, drivers failing to obey road rules etc….However,if a driver is convicted of a drink driving offense, as part of their punishment (which at the moment is a joke), they should be forced to have one installed in ALL vehicles that they will be driving, at their cost, once their suspension (if any) finishes. Thanks for sharing.
If a drunk driver really wants to drive, they’ll just have a sober person blow into the machine. there should be another way to prevent the car from starting
Interlock is not good i lost my lic for a year in 2006 and after one year could get it backbut needed interlock. between dmv and interlock fees cant afford it. now its going on 3 years since dui and i make hardly any money 5 grand a year my car got taken my kids suffer my family has to drive me everywhere the state has to put out money on us for food stamps and medicaid because i cant drive a work truck because now i half to buy a car then buy interlock then pay dmv 500 dollars and you say its a disease well i dont see cancer patients treated this well. and who is really getting punished your tax dollars go to my fridge and my health insurance plus cash assist and other people that care about me half to take their time to drive me around so i make the mistake yet everyone else gets punished and i know im not the only one. u can bet evry person with dui and kids is getting money from the state because they cant drive for work. i love tax time now the less u make the more you get back 6 grand just because your poor well hell i get shouffered payed for nothing eat great and have alot more time to do what i want. at first i was mad but i have become custom to free shit i wont ever drive again if i half to get a interlock device most famlies share cars now anyways so im good other than not using my skills i dont care to drive so someone do a poll on state pending on famlies that have father mandated to interlock theres your budget cut or your school funding right there so yall keep working hard to pay for us drunks