While drunk drivers continue to claim the lives of many innocent motorists, proposed new legislation may go a long way toward reducing the number of motorists that suffer life-altering injuries or die at the hands of drunk drivers.  Federal lawmakers in Congress are proposing legislation that would condition additional federal highway funds on states making the installation of ignition interlock devices mandatory for drivers convicted of DUI.

The House transportation bill that was announced this week would make additional federal highway funds available to states that make the installation of an ignition interlock device a mandatory component of sentences in drunk driving cases.  An ignition interlock device prevents a driver from starting a vehicle until they have submitted to a breath test of blood alcohol concentration (BAC).  The Senate is expected to submit similar DUI ignition interlock legislation.

Ignition interlock devices are currently mandatory for any driver convicted of driving under the influence in fifteen states.  Versions of the requirement in other states make installation of the portable breath test mandatory only for repeat offenders, drunk drivers that cause injury or death and drivers with high BAC levels.  Critics of the legislation, which predictably include the beverage industry, argue that the law will limit a judge’s ability to make subtle sentencing adjustments that differentiate a first time offender who is right at the legal limit of .08 percent BAC from a repeat offender with a BAC level that is double or triple the legal limit.

Data suggests that the program may be far more effective at discouraging repeat offenders and preventing DUI related accidents in Mississippi than driver’s license suspension and revocation.  The International Council on Alcohol, Drugs and Traffic Safety indicates that ignition interlock devices reduce repeat DUI offenses, which may lead to fatal Mississippi DUI accidents, by as much as 40 to 95 percent.  An independent statistic reported on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website indicates that mandatory installation of ignition interlock devices results in a 70 percent reduction in DUI arrests.

The enormous effectiveness of installation of portable breath testing devices is only matched by the ineffectiveness of drivers’ license suspensions.  A number of studies reveal that anywhere between 50-75 percent of drivers continue to drive under the influence of alcohol even after having their drivers’ license suspended.  While the number of people injured and killed in DUI accidents has decreased in recent years, more than 10,000 people per year die in drunk driving accidents, which amount to one every fifty minutes.

The proposed legislation may reduce Mississippi drunk driving accidents, but many Mississippi drunk drivers will continue to put other vehicle occupants at risk.  If you or someone you love has been injured by a drunk driver or a loved one has died, our experienced Mississippi drunk driving attorneys at Barrett Law are committed to holding drunk drivers accountable and seeking compensation for their victims. The experienced drunk driver accident attorneys at Barrett Law have been providing aggressive representation to Mississippi drunk driving victims for over 75 years.  We provide diligent legal representation and impassioned advocacy so we invite you to call us today at 662-834-2376 to learn how we can help.