NY: Mandatory Intercept Blood Level Alcohol levels to start vehicle.

The New York State Assembly ^ | 8 March 2004

[SheLion]

A03054 Memo:

 TITLE OF BILL :  An act to amend the vehicle and traffic law, in              
relation to mandating ignition interlock devices                               

PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL :

This bill requires the installation of ignition interlock devices, similar to breathalyzers, in all cars sold or registered in New York State. SUMMARY OF SPECIFIC PROVISIONS :

The vehicle and traffic law is amended by adding a new section 1198-a, which would require the installation of ignition interlocking devices in all motor vehicles manufactured for use, sold or registered in this state. Those manufactured must be fitted by December 31, 2006 while all existing cars must be fitted by December 31, 2007. Ignition interlocking devices are defined as any blood alcohol concentration equivalence measuring device which connects to a motor vehicle ignition system and prevents a motor vehicle from being started without first determining through an essential deep lung breath sample that the operator's equivalent breath alcohol level does not exceed the calibrated setting on such device.

JUSTIFICATION :

To ensure that those who have been drinking, regardless of their age, do not disregard safety and attempt to operate a motor vehicle, ignition interlock devices should be installed in all motor vehicles. These devices, in essence portable breathalyzers attached to a car's ignition, will not allow a car to be turned on if a deep breath lung test is not taken and passed. To dissuade allowing others from taking the test for a drunk driver, many devices have a rolling test which would ask the driver to retake the test after the car has been started. If this test is failed or ignored the car will react similar to a car alarm unless pulled over and turned off.

This implementation of this legislation will save lives. Alcohol effects a person's judgment, that cannot be disputed, and a person who has been drinking is in no state of mind to be judging their own sobriety, nor should other people, as many drinkers may not appear drunk to others. By installing these devices people who appear to be sober will be stopped from driving when in fact they are above the legal BAC.

It is a question of lives and ignition interlock devices will save them, it is that simple.

PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY :

2002 - A.11387 - Referred to Transportation

FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS : None

EFFECTIVE DATE : Immediately

[dead]

The ignition interlock device manufacturers must be shoveling money to politicians all around the country right now.

Buy their stock. The government never misses an opportunity to be our mommy.

[basil]

Isn't living a free country grand!

Stoopid politicians doing stoopid things--as usual. How are we going to stop them?

[Fun Bob]

Before you go drinking, blow up a balloon, and clip it off with a clothes pin. When you are drunk and get in your car, unclip the balloon, put it over the breathalizer inlet. Release the good air. Car starts up. $500 system that the democrats just forced the poor common man to have to buy to make themselves feel better has just been outsmarted. Nothing but a new car tax.

miserable failure miserable failure miserable failure miserable failure war criminal

[international american]

I hear these things often malfunction. More big brother crap, and expensive, too!

[SheLion]

Buy their stock. The government never misses an opportunity to be our mommy.

Yep! Something is really out of whack here!.......

[Eala]

Great. You're in a tense situation in dense high-speed traffic -- and the car suddenly says "Test time!"

[BIGZ]

Don't vote for Kerry and Fonda for starters.

[Puddleglum]

Good grief! Maybe we need a mandatory blood alcohol level devise before a legislator can vote on something.

[dirtboy]

To ensure that those who have been drinking, regardless of their age, do not disregard safety and attempt to operate a motor vehicle, ignition interlock devices should be installed in all motor vehicles.

I guess it never occurred to them to limit these devices to folks already convicted of a DUI. Nah, let's make everyone guilty until proven innocent.

If this test is failed or ignored the car will react similar to a car alarm unless pulled over and turned off.

I can just see this device wrongly going off in the middle of rush hour traffic on the interstate.

[R. Scott]

Yep! All drivers are potentially drunken killers. We must levy a fine on all vehicle owners of a few hundred dollars before they even have that first drink - even if they don’t drink.

[motzman]

Before you go drinking, blow up a balloon, and clip it off with a clothes pin. $500 system that the democrats just forced the poor common man to have to buy to make themselves feel better has just been outsmarted.

Solution: 5000% Tax Increase on balloons.

[Teacher317]

Great. You're in a tense situation in dense high-speed traffic -- and the car suddenly says "Test time!"

And the masses on the L.I.E. respond by saying "Blow this!"

When the cars shut down and cause accidents (and inevitably deaths), how will the Lefties whine their way through it all?

(Of course, since their intentions were good, they will ffffffeel no guilt about it whatsoever.)

[dead]

You have a couple of beers with your 70-year-old dad to celebrate his birthday. Suddenly, the poor old geezer keels over with chest pains.

You carry him to your car - the hospital is only three miles away!

But your car won't start because some nanny government bastard put an ignition lock on your car.

You watch your dad die in the passenger seat. Thanks do-gooder jerks!

[BadAndy]

In a sane and free state, the mere introduction of this bill should cause citizens to threaten burning the state capital, or at least demand the resignation of the idiots who proposed it.

[xrp]

This is racist against people who don't drink.

In addition, what if someone is being chased by an assailant? I hope I never see something reported such as "she could not escape because she wasn't able to blow the breathalyzer in her car, then she was dragged out, beaten and raped."

[Wolfie]

My prediction: Within 10 years, States who don't do this will lose Federal Highway Funds.

[Still Thinking]

So if this device causes a fatality, can any legislator who voted for this abridgement of our rights be sued personally?

I've never bought that "driving is a privelige, not a right" crap, but used to think it was fairly harmless, till they started taking it to its logical extreme. (I hope this is the extreme and they don't manage to come up with something even worse.)

[Pharmboy]

There would, of course, be a "Kennedy Exemption" clause in that.

[Gabz]

I hear these things often malfunction.

You beat me to it.

These things are notorious for contnuously malfunctioning.

And when they do malfunction a tech has to be called and guess who must pay for the service call? You got it - the driver.

2 years ago a friend of mine opted to have one installed in his vehicle as part of his taking part in a first offender's program. In 3 months he had it replaced 5 times.