Drunk Drivers in California May Get Mandated Interlock Devices

Convicted drunk drivers all over California may soon be required to install and pay for the use of ignition interlock devices, at a cost of $50-100 per month, plus installation. Says the article: "State Sen. Jerry Hill, D-San Mateo, wants to expand a program already in place in four California counties, including Alameda, and 24 other states. Under the proposed state law Hill will introduce Monday, anyone convicted of driving under the influence would be required to install an ignition interlock device in their car for six months on a first offense and a year on a second conviction." Though interlock devices could be fitted to check for other conditions as well, the usual case (as described on this Wikipedia page) is that they base the ability to operate a car on blood alcohol content. Already in California, interlock devices are mandatory for those re-arrested for DUI while "driving on a suspended license due to a DUI conviction."

Comments

Re: How about mandatory felony sentences instead?

[flyneye]

I was gonna say, there's laws like that here too. California just catching on? I guess that explains a few things.
I work with an asshole driving with an interlock. They don't work well in anyones case, from reports I've heard over the years.
That means, when they randomly shut the car off in traffic, to check to see if you had a drink, they may not start back up for several minutes...or at all.
Guess no one cares to work the bugs out of these poor tech contraptions, but, that makes it even funnier to point out to the drunk when he complains, that if he weren't out there endangering everyone, he wouldn't have to drive with an interlock and how funny it is that he is just another fucked drunk. If he continues, I just talk about the old Denver sport of lighting drunks on fire in alleys and how no one misses them anyway. That gets them back to their work and out of my face....
They drive drunk endangering ME and MINE and suddenly I'm the insensitive one, LOL!!