It’s Time For Pennsylvania and New Jersey To Have A Rule Mandating Ignition Cut Off Devices For DUI Offenders
Philadelphia Dram Shop and negligent alcohol related injury attorney, Jeffrey Reiff, believes that Pennsylvania and New Jersey should follow the lead of 8 other states to pass legislation mandating ignition cut off devices for DUI offenders.
Last week the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee of New Jersey proposed a law that would extend a lock mandate to first time DUI offenders whose blood alcohol content registered 0.15% or higher, nearly twice New Jersey’s 0.8% legal definition.
The proposed law would allow Judges to order ignition locks for first time offenders with blood alcohol levels of 0.8 and 0.15 and set the length of time that locks would be required. A similar bill is pending in the Assembly. The number of DUIs are growing exponentially in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and so are the resulting deaths and catastrophic injuries. This law together with increased sobriety check points by the police would help others bear the grief and spare others the pain suffered by families whose loved ones have been injured or killed by drivers operating motor vehicles under the influence of alcohol.
The ignition lock is a Breathalyzer-like device which would prevent drivers from starting their vehicles if their blood alcohol level was over the legal definition. Unfortunately, I have first hand lost many dear friends from the irresponsible and negligent behavior of drunk drivers.
The originally proposed New Jersey bill requires that all people convicted of DUI regardless of their blood alcohol level be required to install the locks. However, it failed to garner enough support among the legislature. The proposed law represents a compromise. Basically, the ignition lock is nothing more than an electronic probation officer. The device would cost an offender approximately $80 to install and another $80 in monthly rental fees. And some models can even be equipped with a mounted camera that takes a picture of licensed driver breathing into the device. While many bar owners and spokespersons for The American Beverage Institute state that these proposals are unreasonable, I defy them to come into my office and look through some of the files and hear the stories of the clients that we have represented who have been catastrophically injured or killed as a result of a drunk driver.
It is time to finally put safety and responsibility over profits and irresponsible behavior and we urge our lawmakers to take these important steps forward.
If you or a loved one has been injured or killed by a drunk driver, please contact one of our Philadelphia Dram shop and negligent alcohol related accident lawyers at Reiff & Bily at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
