DUI offenders convicted of driving under the influence after July 1 will be facing an additional punishment of being required to install an ignition interlock device in their vehicle, even if they're a first-time DUI offender.
Los Angeles County is one of four California counties participating in the five-year pilot program through Assembly Bill 91, where courts mandate the installation of ignition interlocks for five months with first time DUI offenders, 12 months for two-time DUI offenders, and 24 months for a third drunk driving offense. The program may turn into a law across the state, as the state Legislature will be evaluating the effectiveness of the Assembly Bill 91 program in 2015.
The Sacremento Bee reports that there are currently 14 states that have similar laws requiring the installation of an ignition interlock device for first time DUI offenders. Perhaps California will be the 15th state to catch on with this trend. However, some Los Angeles DUI attorneys are against such legislation because it mandates a harsh punishment that they believe only should be applicable for repeat DUI offenders.
"With this law, you are going to have the occasional drinker who had a half glass of wine too much," Ignacio Hernandez, a lobbyist for California DUI lawyers, told the Sacremento Bee.
Remember, it's July 1, 2010 that the magic date for this controversial program is set to take off. With time, Californians will be able to see if this program keeps drunks off the road or if it's simply an unnecessary inconvenience.
Related Resources:
- Los Angeles County Testing Ignition Interlocks (FindLaw)
- CA Launches Ignition Interlock Pilot Program for First DUI Offenders (FindLaw's KnowledgeBase)
- Find a Los Angeles DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
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