N.M. Drunken Drivers Using Ignition Locks

[Railroad]

The following is an excerpt of an Associated Press story found on YAHOO!

N.M. Drunken Drivers Using Ignition Locks

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<!-- TextStart -->By DEBORAH BAKER, Associated Press Writer

SANTA FE, N.M. - Chris Romero hops into his blue-and-white Ford pickup, clicks the ignition on and then off again, and reaches for what looks like a black cell phone hanging from his dashboard.

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"Ready for test. Please blow," reads the display screen on the device.



Romero blows for about four seconds into a short plastic tube that sticks out of the top, then hears a beep. He has passed the test — the screen says, "Drive safely."



The twice-convicted drunken driver is, indeed, driving safely these days — thanks to his determination and the help of an ignition interlock, which would prevent him from starting the truck if he had been drinking.



"I just think it's a really good thing," said Romero, 42, who gave up alcohol after the device was installed three months ago. "It's almost a safety net."



With about 2,600 offenders a year ordered by courts to get interlocks, New Mexico has more of them currently installed per capita than any other state.



And that number could skyrocket. All convicted drunken drivers — nearly 13,000 annually — will be required to get interlocks under a new law Gov. Bill Richardson planned to sign on Wednesday.



While interlocks are employed to varying degrees in more than 40 states, New Mexico will be the first to require such broad use.

"What's unique about it is that it's the entire state, and a mandate for first offenders," said Paul Marques, senior research scientist with the Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation in Calverton, Md.

 

[aps45819]

Maryland uses them.

 

[KCM]

My ex (who has numerous DWI/DUI convictions) had to use one of these for 2 years in order to drive.

 

[willie]

Maryland uses them.

Maryland has had that for quite a while.

 

[aps45819]

Got a call from a friend saying her son and a friend of his had her hubands car, the kid driving only had a learners and the cops had stopped them and she wanted me to drive the car home for her. It had one of those breathalyzers in it and you have to blow in it every few minutes to keep the car running. What a PITA.
I had one of the kids do it.

 

[alex]

Maryland has had that for quite a while.

That may be but how many DUI/DWI convictions do you have to have in MD before they require you use it? The thing I liked about the NM story is that it will be used for all DUI/DWI convictions. So they are trying to stop the abuse with the very first offense instead of waiting until the driver almost kills someone.

 

[willie]

That may be but how many DUI/DWI convictions do you have to have in MD before they require you use it? The thing I liked about the NM story is that it will be used for all DUI/DWI convictions. So they are trying to stop the abuse with the very first offense instead of waiting until the driver almost kills someone.

Good idea. I can't see Maryland ever doing anything that aggresive. It took almost 10 years to come up with a watered down teenage driving bill. Maryland isn't famous for progress.