Bill Would Mandate Use of Ignition-Interlock Devices

A federal transportation bill now being debated in Congress would compel all states to require convicted drunk drivers to install alcohol-detecting ignition-interlock devices on their vehicles, USA Today reported July 30.

States that fail to comply would lose a portion of the federal highway money under the legislation. Currently, 47 states and the District of Columbia require the devices in at least some drunk-driving cases, but Alabama, South Dakota and Vermont lack such laws. Eleven states require all drunk-driving offenders to install the devices, which require the driver to provide a breath sample proving they have no alcohol in their system before the car will start.

If passed, the law could result in up to one million of the devices being installed.

The legislation is backed by Mothers Against Drunk Driving, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and the Governors Highway Safety Association. But the American Beverage Institute, which represents bars and restaurants, expressed concerns, with managing director Sarah Longwell saying, “As this creeping mentality about ’don’t drink and drive’ as opposed to ’don’t drive drunk’ takes over, you’re seeing more officers inclined to arrest people” who aren’t over the presumed threshold for intoxication.

Critics also say the devices could present a financial hardship for first-time offenders.