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An Ignition Interlock In Every Car?

ryeguy-nm writes "Monday the New Mexico House of Representatives passed a bill that would require every car sold in the state to have an ignition interlock. This device is essentially a breath analyzer that prevents the car from being started if the driver is drunk. The bill would require that every new car sold be equipped with an ignition interlock by 2008 and every used car by 2009. Ignition interlocks require a breath test, which takes 30 seconds to complete, to start the car as well as random 'rolling retests' to discourage others from taking the test for you. These rolling retests require the driver to take the test as the car is moving. If the driver fails a retest, the horn sounds and the lights flash until the car is turned off. The bill's lead proponent is Dem. Ken Martinez who believes the bill is a quick fix for New Mexico's drunk driving problems. Opponents of the bill argue that it penalizes car dealerships and law abiding citizens who have never driven drunk. The bill makes no mention of who will have to pay for the device, but it will most likely be auto dealers and citizens who have to sell their cars. It seems to me that impinging upon the liberty of an entire state is a little bit too extreme. Perhaps tougher penalties and larger fines for people who actually drive drunk would be a better idea."

6 of 1,690 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Will last about 1/2 hour... by garcia · · Score: 0, Troll

    Why is this modded up? This is no different than mandating seatbelts yet I get modded to hell when I mention that I don't think it should be LAW that we have to wear them.

    BUT BUT it could hurt someone else if you are ejected... Well this could save people's lives too.

  2. You must be new here by Tibor+the+Hun · · Score: 0, Troll

    So I'll give you a little pointer:
    Under no circumstances are you to apply reason when it comes to issues regarding anything even remotely related to personal privacy, rights or property.
    Especially things that have potential to save lives.
    And yes, I'm still pissed off about seat belts! I have to touch cold/hot metal just so I can have better control of my car and potentially save my life. Not to mention that there is a possibility of them locking me in, while the car is overturned, under water and on fire, no less! (With possibly someone running to attack me!)

    (although i must admit that my seatbelt probably did save my life after a very intoxicated driver nailed me head on)

    Get a clue people, I don't want drunk fuckers driving all around me, my family, and my kids, just because you find it inconvenient or conspiratory to blow in a tube for 30 secs.

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    If you don't know what AltaVista is (was), get off my lawn.
  3. Re:Whatever happened.... by erroneus · · Score: 0, Troll

    I'm against this law but I can see where some of this might be coming from.

    The fact is that many of the drivers in New Mexico aren't legal in any sense... that is to say no driver's license, no green card, no nothing. Have recently been in a fender scratcher over the recent Texas snow (I was a passenger) where the cause of the accident was an illegal alien with, as it turnsout, illegal license plates, no driver's license, no insurance, etc... the only thing left to control, since they can't control the damned aliens, is the car!

    It's a ridiculous inconvenience and I'm very against it... they should SHOOT TO KILL all people attempting to cross into our border illegally and at a non-designated crossing area. Let the risk be known that we will not take prisoners, we'll just ship the bodies back over the border.

    I'm sick of the damage these people are doing to our lives. And now with clear terrorist threat, what's to stop Al Qaeda from donning a sombrero and sneaking over with the other illegals? Nothing of course... shoot'm!

  4. Re:laws by normal_guy · · Score: 0, Troll

    You're thinking of 'historical' Democrats and Republicans. The current administration changed all that. I know exactly who's been worse at it these past four years.

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    Linux: Free if your time is worthless.
  5. Re:laws by nemesisj · · Score: 0, Troll

    This reminds me of some article I read awhile back that mentioned that they could fit a breathalyzer on a credit card sized card. Why not just make every drivers license have a built in breathalyzer? It turns red if you're over the limit, and green if you're not, etc.

  6. Re:laws by ichimunki · · Score: 0, Troll

    What's next?

    What's next is that you go back and reread what I wrote in context (not to mention my follow-up) and stop accusing me of not taking responsibility for myself or promoting a "nanny-state". I clearly stated the punishments needed to go on the drivers and not everyone else.

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