New Law Makes Interlock Mandatory For 1st Time DUI Offenders
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Governor Tom Wolf is cracking down on drunk drivers. Wednesday, the governor signed Senate Bill 290 into law.
The law makes the ignition interlock program mandatory for first-time DUI offenders with high blood alcohol levels.
With the system, drivers have to pass a breathalyzer wired into the car each time they get behind the wheel.
Jim Wilson, who installs the devices, expects to be pretty busy with the passing of this new law.
Prior to this law, the interlocks were required only for repeat offenders and thats after they lost their license for a period of time.
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"More business for us, I like that, if it keeps a guy that has a drinking problem off the streets, thats good for all of us," Wilson said.
Under the new law, many first time DUI offenders will keep their license, but will have an interlock installed. Attorneys who work a lot of DUI cases say the change makes sense.
"They are able to maintain their driver's license, and we know that in this modern society to be able to work and take care of your family and take care of your children without a drivers license, is almost impossible," said attorney David Shrager.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving estimate that interlock ignitions have stopped 78,000 attempts to drive drunk in Pennsylvania over about a 12 year period. The new law will go into effect in 15 months.
