| One of the newest advancements in DUI legislation is | | | | deal with alcoholism. It allows them (and others |
| sparking a major controversy among lobbyists and | | | | granted the privilege of a hardship license) to keep |
| lawmakers. The Blood Alcohol Ignition Interlock | | | | their jobs so they can live their lives and support their |
| Device (BAIID) is a lockout device installed in the | | | | families. The device grants people the freedom to |
| passenger compartment of a car and hooked up to | | | | live their lives and attend counseling while also |
| the engine. Before driving, an offender must breathe | | | | promoting more responsible driving decisions. |
| into the device so that it can gauge a BAC (blood | | | | In a perfect world, that may be enough, but this world |
| alcohol content) reading. If the driver is within legal | | | | is not perfect, and the device is considerably flawed. |
| limits, the device allows the engine to turn over and | | | | Once the device is installed, it is not set to prevent |
| start the car. However, if the driver does not pass | | | | drunk driving. IID’s used in Massachusetts are set |
| the test, the car will not start. Once the car starts | | | | at .02, well below the legal limit of .08. This low |
| and it is on the road, the driver must periodically | | | | threshold essentially prevents any consumption of |
| breathe into the machine again. If the BAC is an illegal | | | | alcohol within hours of driving. This is somewhat |
| level, the ignition interlock device will register a failure | | | | unreasonable, and rather than restricting excessive |
| and the driver will be called in for a interlock violation | | | | drinking and irresponsible driving, it aims to control a |
| hearing. These rolling re-tests are required to insure | | | | person’s life by hindering alcohol consumption |
| that the driver does not fool the device by having a | | | | completely. In addition, the devices are installed and |
| sober friend blow into the machine before he or she | | | | monitored at the motorist’s expense, meaning the |
| drives away, as well as that the driver is not drinking | | | | privilege is only available to those who can afford it. |
| while driving. | | | | The same options should apply to every person who |
| There has been agitated debate about this issue since | | | | walks through that court, and not only those with a fat |
| its inception. Although some claim it is the answer to | | | | wallet. In many cases, the initial and monthly expense |
| DUI issues, many experts point out that the device is | | | | of the IID prevents individuals from getting a hardship |
| faulty but relied on to a dangerous extent. In | | | | license, because the IID is often a requirement. |
| Massachusetts, ignition interlock violations can result in | | | | The ignition interlock is not a reliable device, and it relies |
| harsh consequences such as a 10 year or lifetime | | | | on the “guilty until proven innocent” mindset. |
| license suspension. Lawmakers seem to be putting | | | | That is not what this country’s legal system is |
| high stakes into a machine that is neither 100% | | | | supposed to represent. Testing has suggested that |
| accurate or reliable, at the expense of the peoples’ | | | | these machines can easily mistake items like baked |
| lives it can potentially destroy. | | | | goods, protein bars, mouthwash, and cough drops for |
| The Ignition Interlock Device is not completely | | | | alcohol. The sensor tests BAC through an oxidation |
| problematic and, according to the Registry of Motor | | | | reaction to the breath, unlike the more reliable infrared |
| Vehicles, there are approximately 4,000 Ignition | | | | spectroscopy used in evidentiary breathalyzers. |
| Interlock Devices in use in Massachusetts. Like any | | | | Therefore, drivers are given a sub-par machine that |
| debatable item, the device has its high points. For | | | | can potentially label them a criminal and destroy their |
| instance, by preventing people with a high BAC from | | | | lives. A person should be innocent until proven guilty, |
| driving, the device may possibly keep the roads safer | | | | but with an unreliable detector, the opposite is true. |
| and less prone to accidents during certain hours where | | | | Hopefully you are now more educated on this matter. |
| heavy drinking is the norm. However, the saving | | | | Before the laws evolve any more, the existing laws |
| grace of this appliance is that it is a compromise | | | | need to be perfected. No one should ever be charged |
| between the court and the convicted. Although often | | | | for a crime they have not committed and until these |
| considered harsh for first time offenses, this is a fair | | | | devices are proven to be more accurate, they should |
| conciliation for people with multiple offenses who may | | | | not be admissible in a court of law. |