Proposed Law Would Require IIDs for All New Vehicles

 Posted on September 15, 2015 in DUI

Citing statistics from a study conducted by researchers at the University of Michigan, a federal lawmaker has announced that she will be introducing legislation that will require all new cars manufactured by American companies to come equipped with ignition interlock technology in order to stop drunk drivers from getting behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Ignition interlock devices (IID) measure a person’s blood alcohol content (BAC) the same way a breathalyzer does. When the device is installed on a vehicle, it requires a driver to provide the device with a breath sample in order for the vehicle to start. If the driver’s BAC is over a pre-programmed limit, the vehicle will not start. Many states, including Illinois, use these devices as criteria for reinstating the driving privileges of a person who has been convicted of driving under the influence.

The bill is being introduced by U.S. Representative Kathleen Rice (D-NY), a former District Attorney of Nassau County, NY. Representative Rice has been nationally recognized for the hard stance she has taken against drunk driving. In her press release announcing the proposed law, Rice discussed the University of Michigan study as indication that IIDs work toward preventing drunk driving, thus saving lives.

According to the study, requiring IIDs as standard equipment in vehicles would prevent 85 percent of drunk driving deaths over a 15-year period. It would also stop almost 90 percent of drunk driving accident injuries. By preventing these accidents, approximately $343 billion would be saved over that same 15-year period. This technology would be especially beneficial to younger drivers, between the ages of 21 and 29 years of age. This age group suffers the highest numbers of fatalities in drunk driving accidents. Overall, according to the study, almost 500,000 deaths and injuries would be prevented.

In Illinois, approximately 90 percent of all drivers who are arrested for driving under the influence end up losing their drivers’ licenses. Even a first time conviction of DUI will result in a minimum of one year license revocation, a possible prison sentence of up to one year, and a fine of up to $2,500. That is why if you have been arrested for DUI, you should contact a skilled Arlington Heights defense attorney immediately. Call Attorney Scott F. Anderson at 847-253-3400 to schedule a free initial consultation today.

Sources:

http://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/pdf/10.2105/AJPH.2014.302445

http://lifesafer.com/devices/what-is-an-interlock/

http://cyberdriveillinois.com/departments/BAIID/baiid.html

https://kathleenrice.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=175

http://cyberdriveillinois.com/publications/pdf_publications/dsd_a118.pdf