To curb DUI incidents, a bill has been proposed that mandates the installation of breath-controlled ignition interlock devices for every person in California who has driven under the influence.
The proposed rule aims to prevent anyone from starting their car while under the influence. The New York Post reported that lawmakers gave their vote of approval last week to the state legislation, which requires the use of ignition interlock devices (IIDs) that only allow a driver to start the vehicle if their breath alcohol concentration is within the legal limit.
The state has allowed the use of these devices since the 1980s, so it isn’t new technology. For someone who is caught driving under the influence for the first time, it is up to the judge to decide whether or not to order the installation of the IIDs in their vehicle.
However, the new bill aims to take away control from the judge, which means the IID will become a mandatory installation for all DUI offenders. Irvine Democrat Assembly member Cottie Petrie-Norris is pushing for the new law, which could affect thousands of drivers.
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Making the law stricter by taking all of the judges’ discretion away would improve road safety massively, according to Petrie-Norris, who believes that first-time offenders should not be allowed to repeat the crime. She said:
First-Time DUI Offenders Won’t be Taken Lightly
“There should be no ‘first-time free pass’—accountability must begin with the first conviction, before offenders become repeat threats. California’s current system is failing too many families.”
However, the bill has received opposition from the California Public Defenders Association, which argued that taking away the judge’s discretion would not only expand the market for IID vendors but would also cause a financial burden for offenders. The statement read:
“Eliminating that discretion does little to enhance safety while imposing substantial costs on drivers—particularly those with limited financial means—and creating a guaranteed market expansion for private IID vendors.”
But with California lawmakers trying hard to improve road safety, and with widespread support from across party lines, it is likely that the bill will be passed before the deadline at the end of August, despite the opposition.
