New AZ Law Targets First Time DUI Offenders

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September 18th, 2007

"Ignition-interlock Device For First Time DUI Offenders"

One of the nation's toughest DUI laws will be enacted tonight at midnight in Arizona. Under the new law, first time DUI offenders will be required to have an ignition-interlock device installed in their car and offenders whose blood-alcohol level is .20 or above must serve a minimum 45 days in jail.

Arizona is the second state to enact such strict laws. In 2005, New Mexico was the first state to require ignition interlock devices for individuals convicted of DUI. According to state officials, that law decreased the number of alcohol-related fatalities by four percent. Officials in Arizona are hoping for similar results.

What Critics Are Saying

The tough new law is not without critics. Some opponents of the bill cite the expense of ignition interlock devices, which are installed beneath a vehicle's dash and require a clean breath sample to start the car.

Offenders must pay for the installation of the device as well as its maintenance over 12 months. This cost is in addition to any fines imposed for the conviction.

DUI attorneys say the new law will flood the court system with cases. Even though the law won't affect currently existing cases, DUI offenders from here on out will want to challenge the charges against them.

�I think people are going to have to fight these DUIs harder than ever before,� said DUI attorney Mark Weingart. �We're talking about a situation here where if somebody has a blood test of .1999, you have 10 days in jail. If it's one-thousandth of a point higher, it's 45 days.�

(Source: The Arizona Republic online)

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