|
 A new
law signifies that beginning at midnight on Jan. 1, 2009, anyone arrested for DUI will be required to install
a breath alcohol ignition interlock device, or BAIID, if they
want driving relief during the length of their driver's license
suspension. In addition, the new law requires the person to submit a
breath test every time they wish to start their vehicle and also at
periodic intervals after their vehicle has been started.
If the
interlock device registers a blood alcohol concentration above a pre-set level, the vehicle
does not start. In addition, the device keeps a
record of each attempt to start the vehicle and the
corresponding blood alcohol level. These records will be monitored by the
Illinois secretary of state's office, and the DUI offender will be
subject to further penalties if he or she continues to attempt to
drive under the influence.
"This
is a new and innovative approach to deal with a very serious traffic
safety issue," said Illinois
Secretary of State Jesse White. "There are too many people
killed and injured each year by drunk drivers. This law uses
technology to target DUI offenders in an effort to make our roads
safer, while posing no inconvenience to the vast majority of
Illinoisans who are safe and responsible drivers. Most importantly,
this law will save lives."
"We
hope this new approach will encourage motorists to think twice
before getting behind the wheel intoxicated," said Illinois
Department of
Transportation Secretary Milton R. Sees. "When
motorists make the decision to drive drunk, they are putting
innocent lives in danger, and we will not tolerate that behavior on
Illinois roadways."
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Nearly every state has a form of BAIID law, with some states
mandating use of the device for offenders and others leaving it to
the discretion of a judge. Illinois is one of just six states
mandating BAIID use by first-time offenders. However, Illinois is
the largest state to mandate the BAIID law.
"The Illinois State Police and law enforcement agencies
throughout the state are committed to keeping
impaired drivers off our roadways," said
Illinois State Police Director Larry G. Trent. "With the
implementation of the breath alcohol ignition interlock device program, first-time offenders will be less
likely to become repeat offenders. We are hopeful
that the use of this technology will lead to a
reduction in crashes and fatalities resulting from DUIs."
[Text from file received from
the
Illinois Office of
Communication and Information; LDN staff]
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