| Thanks to Arizona's new drunk driving laws, even first | | | | blood alcohol concentration to be below a |
| time offenders could land themselves in prison. | | | | predetermined and preset level. The ignition is simply |
| Effective October 2007, the state's driving under the | | | | disabled if the reading exceeds the specified number. |
| influence (DUI) laws are recognized as the harshest in | | | | The IID must be installed and in use for a minimum of |
| the nation. | | | | twelve months after the DUI conviction and judges |
| Although Governor Janet Napolitano signed the bill into | | | | have no authority to waive or reduce that period of |
| law after it was approved overwhelmingly in the | | | | time. They can, however, order additional time for the |
| House and Senate. However, it was met with some | | | | device to remain in use. |
| resistance. Opponents felt it unfairly penalized those | | | | Because the penalties are so stiff, Arizona attorneys |
| who were otherwise responsible citizens. | | | | are gearing up to defend more first time offenders in |
| One of the most significant changes is the mandatory | | | | court. Prior to last year, clients didn't necessarily face |
| 45 day jail sentence for first timers that are found to | | | | jail time, especially for a first offense. They were |
| have a blood alcohol level of twice the legal limit or | | | | usually told to expect warnings, fines and probation, or |
| higher. The current limit is .08%. The new laws classify | | | | what amounted to little more than a slap on the wrist. |
| them as "super extreme" offenders when chemical | | | | Now they expect many will want to present a |
| tests reveal a blood alcohol concentration, or BAC, of | | | | challenge rather than automatically plead guilty or no |
| .20% or more. Incidentally, refusing to submit to the test, | | | | contest. |
| whether convicted or not, results in an automatic one | | | | The new law is also written to expedite the whole DUI |
| year license suspension. | | | | process for law enforcement. It allows the Motor |
| As tough as that seems, jail time is only the beginning. | | | | Vehicle Department to examine their own records for |
| The newly convicted "super extreme" drunk drivers will | | | | previous DUI offenses. Rather than waiting for the |
| be required to install an ignition interlock device in their | | | | courts to send them, they can now effectively cut |
| vehicle. At one time, only repeat offenders were | | | | through the red tape and reduce turnaround time. |
| required to have it installed. | | | | It's a sobering thought for many Arizona residents and |
| According to the Arizona Department of | | | | rightfully so. In 2006, there were 315 lives lost and over |
| Transportation, this mandatory piece of equipment is | | | | 59,000 injuries as a result of alcohol related crashes. |
| designed to connect a breath analyzer to a motor | | | | The economic loss is estimated at upwards of $547 |
| vehicle's ignition system. | | | | million. Those statistics and the new laws should make |
| The ignition interlock system, referred to as an IID, will | | | | anyone think twice before driving and drinking. |
| only allow the vehicle to start if the monitor shows the | | | | |