Schwarzenegger Cracks Down on First-Time DUI Offenders
Last week, California’s Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a new bill that will go into effect July of next year. Under this new law…known as Assembly Bill 91…first-time California DUI offenders will be required to install ignition interlock devices (IIDs) on every car they own or operate.
This legislation is starting out as a pilot project in Los Angeles, Sacramento, Tulare, and Alameda counties. If successful, it will ultimately go into effect statewide.
A California ignition interlock device is essentially a mini-breathalyzer machine that attaches to the steering column in your car. In order for your car to start, you must provide an alcohol-free breath sample.
The IID also periodically requires “rolling” samples while you are driving. This is one way to help ensure that the driver is the person blowing into the instrument. It should be noted that asking someone else to blow into your IID…and blowing into someone else’s IID…are both crimes.
California ignition interlock devices are costly. Some companies charge as much as $100 to install the devices and then another $2.50 a day to maintain them. Under this new law, those who are unable to afford the device may only be required to pay a portion of its cost.
