In 2007, Arizona changed its drunk driving laws. The changes included not only increased punishments and fines, but also required all offenders, even those who face their first DUI conviction, to have an ignition interlock device (IID) installed on their vehicles.
The new law makes it mandatory for all drivers convicted of a DUI to use an IID for a minimum of one year, regardless of the blood alcohol level. However, those convicted of what the Governor's Office of Highway Safety refers to as "super extreme DUI," where the blood alcohol concentration is .20 or higher, are required to use an IID for 18 months.
A New Generation of Interlock Devices
According to a report in The Boston Globe, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Automotive Coalition for Traffic Safety are partnering to fund a study which focuses on creating new interlock devices and technology. These devices would require no driver interaction or work with only the push of a button. The devices are being manufactured by QinetiQ, a North American defense contractor with the backing of a $10 million initiative.
The hope of the NHTSA and other agencies participating in the project is that these devices will be standard on all vehicles in the near future. Statistics from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which is also helping fund the study, note that the new technology could help save 8,000 to 9,000 lives a year.
But the new technology also has critics, including some who say that it will create more problems than it will solve. Jim Baxter, president of the National Motorists Association, a motorists' rights nonprofit group, says that it is inappropriate to force all drivers, particularly those who do not have a history of drinking and driving, to use these devices. There is also the concern that if the devices were to malfunction, it could prevent sober drivers from using their vehicles.
Working With an Attorney
If you have been charged with DUI, you face serious consequences. Along with the mandatory interlock device, you face heavy fines and minimum jail times ranging from 10 to 90 days. It is important to work with an experienced attorney who can protect your rights, especially if you have a previous DUI conviction.
