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01-14-2016 08:43 PM
Ignition interlock bill would apply to all drunk drivers
http://wtop.com/maryland/2016/01/ignition-interlock-bill-would-apply-to-all-drunk-drivers/
ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Supporters of putting ignition interlocks in the vehicles of all drunk drivers in Maryland are moving quickly to underscore how it could save lives.
Del. Ben Kramer and Sen. Jamie Raskin held a news conference Wednesday with Lisa Spicknall, the state program director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
They were joined by Capt. Tom Didone, a Montgomery County police officer and a colleague of Officer Noah Leotta, who was killed in December while working on a driving under the influence assignment.
The measure would require all convicted drunk drivers with a blood alcohol level of .08 or greater to have an ignition interlock. Now, Maryland law requires ignition interlock for drivers with a BAC of .15, nearly twice the legal limit.
*** Here is an example of one such device, used in Colorado.

01-14-2016 09:03 PM - edited 01-14-2016 09:04 PM
I know this technology has been available for some time. I'm all for it.
01-14-2016 09:07 PM
100% for it. Once you've been convicted of DUI, you need to earn back the priviledge of driving.
01-14-2016 09:08 PM
It's a great idea as long as some sober and irresponsible individual does not agree to bypass the system for the convicted drunk driver.
01-14-2016 09:10 PM
Growing up, we heard the terms "DUI" and "DWI", but I don't know if there is a (legal) distinction anymore. It seems that the only term I hear is DUI, which is .08.
01-14-2016 09:24 PM
I have a guy friend who has been wearing an ankle bracelet since last February. He has done great. No alcohol at all. Has to go in twice a week to download the info. The bracelet got in the way of his exercising, so he opted for the interlock ignition. I think he used it for a month before he opted for the bracelet to return. With the interlock, he was required to "blow" at unexpected times while driving, and he said it always startled him. Plus, he had to go in morning and evening to blow at the police station. Every day.
The one problem with interlock is that someone else can blow for you, but they are working on a system that avoids this. I fully support these programs that keep offenders from drinking and drivng, but still productive members of society. I.e., not in jail.
After a year of living under the constraints of this system, I think it will be a cold day before that friend drinks and drives again.
01-14-2016 09:33 PM
Yes, if not a full blown requirement, at least a major study.
Many times we fail to implement changes because we fear how they might affect people, or how they might not work.
I think we should try and see if they help.
Exploring all potential opportunities to DO something about DUI is a GOOD thing.
Thank you for posting this.
01-14-2016 09:43 PM
100% for it!! Wish every state would do this. People should never, never drink and drive. I think the world would be a much better place is alcoholic drinks of any type did not exist....or had never been invented. There's nothing.....nothing good about alcohol.
01-14-2016 09:45 PM
@deepwaterdotter wrote:It's a great idea as long as some sober and irresponsible individual does not agree to bypass the system for the convicted drunk driver.
Yes, there are ways to cheat.
01-14-2016 09:54 PM
This could be a starting point for this type of testing. Technology is available now that use a person's fingerprints to unlock computers and many other devices.
Unless the fingerprints match that of the convicted DUI individual, the vehicle won't start regardless of what happens after that point. It can also automatically register each failure attempt at trying to bypass this system.
Trying to find a way to beat this system? Add another 12 months extension to the existing sentence. All costs for this technology usage WILL be borne by the law breaker.
Technology is far past something this simple, so I say, let's put it to use. I personally think every vehicle manufactured should have a device that measures the BAL of every and anyone before the vehicle will start? Build the cost into each vehicle, or remove the little known tracking devices already built new vehicles?
Get those Driving Under the Influence, off the roads. They are playing Russian Roulette with innocent people's lives?
hckynut(john)
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