Lawmakers push interlock devices for repeat drunken drivers

[NickD 203]

"By Ben Jones • Gannett Wisconsin Media • February 4, 2009

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• MADISON — Thousands of drunken drivers in Wisconsin could be required to use ignition interlock devices.

OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1'); A proposal in the state Assembly would require the devices for drunken drivers who have two or more convictions, and first-offense drunken drivers who have a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or more, which is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.

“There’s no better time than now,” said Rep. Dean Kaufert, R-Neenah, who helped introduce the proposal at a Capitol news conference. “The public awareness, the media stories … constituents, people are talking about this entire issue.”

The interlock devices will add more than $1,000 to the cost of a drunken driving conviction. The costs include monthly service fees of about $80, installation costs of about $150 and a $50 fee to the state Department of Transportation. These costs would be paid by convicted drunken drivers.

Drivers would have to use the devices for a minimum of one year, and low-income drivers could qualify for lower costs.

The bill aims to prevent drunken drivers from offending again.

Kaufert said the timing is right for the bill, which is backed by AWARE, a group working to reduce drunken driving, and the Tavern League of Wisconsin.

“Attitudes are changing toward drunken driving, driving while impaired,” said Kaufert, who owns a tavern.

More than 42,000 people in Wisconsin were convicted of drunken driving offenses in Wisconsin, according to the state Department of Transportation. A special report by Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers last year documented the effects of Wisconsin’s alcohol culture, including the high rates of drunken driving in the state.

Laura Dean-Mooney, national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, spoke at the news conference. She said that on average, drivers who are arrested for drunken driving have already driven drunk 87 times.

“It’s time simply, to stop giving drunk drivers permission to keep driving drunk,” she said.

Ben Jones writes for the Post-Crescent in Appleton."

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/arti...1/90204208/1982

"What’s an ignition interlock device?

An alcohol ignition interlock is a breath test device linked to a vehicle’s ignition system. When a driver wishes to start the vehicle, he or she must first blow into the device.

The vehicle will not start unless the driver’s alcohol concentration is below a certain level. A data recorder logs the driver’s results for each attempt to start the vehicle.

Interlocks may be calibrated to have “rolling retests,” which requires a driver to provide breath tests at regular intervals, which prevent drivers from asking a sober friend to start the car, drink while driving, or leave the car idling in a bar parking lot.

Source: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers"

Sounds incredibly stupid to me, we have idiots running our state. If a device can be installed, it can be uninstalled, and how are they going to enforce this law, go out everyday and make sure that device is working. And what is to keep that drunk from using another vehicle? And if that vehicle does stall on the road for a retest, that can cause an accident. GM was using the oil pressure switch to keep the fuel pump working, had to drop that with a liability suit, if the oil pressure switch fails or the pressure dips, can stall a vehicle on a crowded interstate causing a pile up.

What's really stupid in this state, a guy can't go to any store that sells packaged alcohol and buy it to go home after 9:00 PM, only place to get a drink is at a bar. And bars we have, even on the most loniest of county roads. Thousands of tiny towns only have a bar and a church, miles from any residence. And these bars stay open until 2:00 AM, plenty of time to really get smashed. One sensible law would be to make these bars liable if one of their patrons gets drunk. They are talking about 0.2% now.

Another law they could pass would be to start taxing alcohol, cheaper to buy a six pack of coke than beer. Or even reduce the number of laws and taxes in this state, they are driving people to drink.

God, I have got to move out of this state, we for the last twenty years have been ruled by complete idiots. Yes, I write to them, they agree, but don't do anything and even admitted to where a guy can't even buy a bottle of wine after 9:00 PM was stupid.

[almaty 19]

illinois has it ..started this year..for 1st time offenders..etc..so, if you get a dui, you have to have it installed and pay $70 monthly to the state for caliberation fees...

stay sober when you drive..and no problem////a family of 3..got killed yesterday in illinois from a drunk driver..\driving the wrong way on the interstate..