Mothers Against Drunk Driving praised the Alabama Legislature for passing House Bill 361 requiring ignition interlocks for repeat and first-time convicted drunk drivers with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 or higher.
The legislation would make Alabama the 50th state to enact an ignition interlock law, according to MADD.
HB 361 is pending Gov. Robert Bentley’s signature.
“MADD believes that the action taken by lawmakers in advancing HB 361 will help reduce the number of repeat DUI offenders, save lives, and prevent injuries,” said Laura Dean-Mooney, national president of MADD. “MADD congratulates lawmakers for passing this important legislation which will make Alabama roadways safer. Alabamans will be better protected as convicted drunk drivers will be taught to drive sober by being required to operate a vehicle equipped with an interlock.”
An ignition interlock is a device, about the size of a cellphone, wired into the ignition system of a vehicle. Convicted drunk drivers must blow into the device to start their vehicles. Any measurable amount of alcohol in their system keeps the vehicle from starting.
Albertville Police Chief Doug Pollard and Boaz Police Chief Terry L. Davis said ignition interlocks can be effective.
“I think it’ll help,” Davis said. “It’s a good tool.”
Sardis City Police Chief James Harp agreed but said the device is not foolproof.
“Anybody that wants to drive bad enough can get somebody to blow into it for them,” Harp said. “It’s a step in the right direction, but I don’t know if it’s going to be worth the cost.”
Alabama District 29 Rep. Becky Nordgen said she’s also concerned about the cost but supported the legislation.
“When they start spouting out these different levels of alcohol, I have no clue how many drinks that takes,” said Nordgren, a Republican who represents portions of DeKalb and Etowah counties. “I really see that piece of equipment as being advantageous.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control, ignition interlocks reduce drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent on average.
Alabama is poised to become the 13th state to require ignition interlocks for first-time convicted drunk drivers with a blood alcohol content of 0.15 or greater, according to MADD.
MADD cited studies showing first-time convicted drunk drivers have driven drunk an average of 87 times before they are convicted.
In Alabama, 54,043 people have three or more DUI convictions and 22,306 have five or more convictions, MADD reported.
In 2009, 280 people in Alabama were killed in crashes involving a drunk driver, according to MADD.
Sen. Bill Holtzclaw, R-Madison, and Rep. Mike Hill, R-Columbiana, sponsored the bills requiring ignition interlocks.
