For as long as people have been getting behind the wheel while intoxicated, there have been efforts by law enforcement authorities and activists to prevent this from happening. While some people might argue that some of these measures go too far, there are others that claim law enforcement officers and political officials still aren’t doing enough. Although all states have statutes and laws to punish those who drive under the influence, each state goes about its business a little differently.
According to the National Conference of State Legislature, one common thread — no matter where you live — is that all 50 states have some kind of ignition interlock law in place for drivers who have been convicted of drunk driving. There are 21 states that actually have mandatory ignition interlock policies for any DUI offense. That means, in those 21 states, even if a person is convicted for the first time of driving under the influence, he or she will have to install one of these devices in his or her vehicle before having his or her driving privileges restored.
The effort to get the other 29 states to join the push for stronger ignition interlock laws is building. Late in 2013, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommended that all states implement ignition interlock standards for first-time offenders convicted of driving under the influence. They also encouraged all states to determine a minimum length of time for which convicted offenders must use an ignition interlock device.
Though they may seem like a hindrance, ignition interlock devices can help people who struggle with alcohol addiction avoid future drunk-driving offenses. For those of our Poughkeepsie readers who know that subsequent DWI convictions can lead to harsher consequences, an ignition interlock device might even be seen as a good thing, especially if it can help an individual keep their driving privileges.
