Technology maybe able to reduce DUI repeat offenders
Idaho’s impaired driving crash fatalities increased 20.8 percent in 2015. In fact, impaired driving claimed four in every 10 road fatalities, with an impaired driving crash resulting in a fatality every 4.2 days.
AAA Idaho representatives believe technology maybe the solution to reducing drunk drivers. AAA Idaho has shared this important information with legislators to call for the enactment of an all-offender IID program that requires the use of an ignition interlock device after the first drunk driving conviction or refusal to comply with field testing.
Ignition interlock devices can be installed after a drunk driving conviction. They require a driver to blow clean air into the device to allow the vehicle to start.
The Centers for Disease Control estimate that impaired motorists drive an average of 80 times before being stopped for driving while intoxicated. Since 60 to 80 percent of drivers with suspended licenses continue to drive, it’s clear that alternative penalties fall hopelessly short of stopping impaired driving behaviors.
Mothers Against Drunk Drivers report that 52 percent of DUI arrests in a recent year were third-time offenders.
According to Idaho official court records between 2015-2016 misdemeanor DUIs numbers for 10 counties were as follows:
Bingham County reported during 2015, 116 misdemeanor DUIs. That number decreased in the last year by 12, resulting in 104.
Bonneville: 2015-366
2016 404
Butte: 2015 -12
2016-6
Clark: 2015-5
2016-8
Custer: 2015-14
2016-21
Fremont: 2015-32
2016-41
Jefferson: 2015-33
2016-41
Lemhi: 2015-46
2016-26
Teton: 2015-66
2016-42
Felony DUI’s for 2015-2016 were:
Bingham: 2015-15
2016-24
Jefferson: 2015-1
2016-6
Madison: 2015-3
2016-4
Teton: 2015-4
2016-5
Watch tonight’s news coverage on Local News 8 and KIDK Eyewitness News 3 on what local law enforcement think about the idea of requiring first offense drunk drivers to have a ignition interlock device in their vehicles.
