COLUMBIA - Starting July 1st, repeat alcohol offenders -- including drivers who have had their licenses taken away -- will have to pay for an ignition locking system and have it installed in their cars.
This new provision is for people who have had two or more alcohol related offenses, like a DWI, and have not had their driving privileges restored. It will also affect anyone who commits two or more offenses after July 1, 2009. Alcohol offenders want to drive in Missouri again must use this ignition lock system. An ignition interlock device is a breath-testing instrument connected to a car's ignition, horn and headlights. To start the vehicle, a driver must breathe into the device without registering a detectable blood alcohol concentration.
Requiring an ignition interlock device will still be an option judges may impose at sentencing, but under the new law it will be an automatic requirement for certain repeat offenders and it will be enforced by the Missouri Department of Revenue. Communications Director Ted Farnen said, "If they have to deal with this device for six months and that makes it very hard to drive after having any alcohol, perhaps they will kick their habit and will learn not to drive while drunk."
The law affects at least 70,000 alcohol offenders but not all will be eligible to even apply to restore their driving privileges for some time.
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