Spring Break
Breathalyzers installed for DUI offenders
Blazej Bruzda
Issue date: 11/12/09 Section: News
Drivers beware: four counties in California, including Sacramento, are cracking down on drunk drivers starting this summer.
Under the new law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, even first-time DUI offenders will have to equip their vehicles with an ignition interlock device, also known as a breathalyzer.
"If it is going to help take impaired motorists off the highway, I'm very supportive of it," said Interim Lt. Kelly Clark, campus police spokesperson.
The counties included in the pilot program are Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare, according to the office of Assemblymember Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, who is also the author of the bill, AB91.
"It is good they are targeting the problem areas first to see how well it actually does before they expand," said John Vu, senior economics major. "I think they should have done this a long time ago. It would have stopped a lot of DUI's from happening."
Feuer's Chief of Staff Rebecca Markus said under the law, first-time DUI offenders will have to use the ignition interlock devices for five months, or one year if the incident involves injury.
Second-time offenders will need to keep the device for one year, while third-time offenders will live with the ignition interlock device for two years, Markus said.
The ignition interlock device is connected to the ignition of the car and will not allow the vehicle to start without the driver's breath analysis, said CHP spokesman Michael Bradley.
"This pilot project can save hundreds of lives. I'm pleased that the governor agrees that California should require offenders to have these devices installed. This law is an important step in preventing DUI recidivism in our state," Feuer said.
Even though some students tsee this new law as a positive step toward reducing the number of DUI accidents, there are also those who oppose it.
"I think it is a little extreme. I'm not an advocate for drinking and driving but they're crossing a really dangerous line for how much control they want to have over people's poor judgment," said Brad Bong, senior theater major.
Under the new law signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, even first-time DUI offenders will have to equip their vehicles with an ignition interlock device, also known as a breathalyzer.
"If it is going to help take impaired motorists off the highway, I'm very supportive of it," said Interim Lt. Kelly Clark, campus police spokesperson.
The counties included in the pilot program are Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare, according to the office of Assemblymember Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles, who is also the author of the bill, AB91.
"It is good they are targeting the problem areas first to see how well it actually does before they expand," said John Vu, senior economics major. "I think they should have done this a long time ago. It would have stopped a lot of DUI's from happening."
Feuer's Chief of Staff Rebecca Markus said under the law, first-time DUI offenders will have to use the ignition interlock devices for five months, or one year if the incident involves injury.
Second-time offenders will need to keep the device for one year, while third-time offenders will live with the ignition interlock device for two years, Markus said.
The ignition interlock device is connected to the ignition of the car and will not allow the vehicle to start without the driver's breath analysis, said CHP spokesman Michael Bradley.
"This pilot project can save hundreds of lives. I'm pleased that the governor agrees that California should require offenders to have these devices installed. This law is an important step in preventing DUI recidivism in our state," Feuer said.
Even though some students tsee this new law as a positive step toward reducing the number of DUI accidents, there are also those who oppose it.
"I think it is a little extreme. I'm not an advocate for drinking and driving but they're crossing a really dangerous line for how much control they want to have over people's poor judgment," said Brad Bong, senior theater major.
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