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New - Harsher- Penalties for First Time DUI Offenders In Idaho

Posted by William Young | Jan 03, 2019 | 2 Comments

New Penalties for Idaho DUI Offenders

Starting January 1st, all first time DUI offenders in Idaho will be required to install an interlock device in their vehicle.

All first time DUI offenders and those individuals who refuse to take a roadside test for alcohol or drugs will be required to install an interlock device on any vehicle they plan to drive. An interlock device requires the operator to blow into the system before the vehicle will function; if the device finds alcohol in the driver's system the vehicle will not function. Previously, individual judges had the discretion to decide if an interlock device was necessary on a case-by-case basis. For the most part, this meant that interlock devices were only required for repeat offenders.

Let me start off by saying that interlock devices are a good idea in theory. From an outside perspective this legislation probably sounds like a good idea: DUI offenders being monitored to make sure they don't re-offend. The reality is that it will cause HUGE problems in practice and will cause many instances of injustice. This is another example of legislators failing to consider real world implications and complications their votes create.

I ran out of steam as to the problems with this law but check back in the next couple days for more information.

About the Author

William Young

William Young - Idaho Criminal Defense and Trial Attorney As a criminal defense attorney I have handled nearly every type of case - from simple infractions to the most complex felonies. There is no case to small for my attention, and no case too large for me to handle. I fight for my clients a...

Comments

Kim Andersen Reply

Posted Sep 05, 2020 at 13:29:42

What is to prevent a driver from drinking or injesting a substance AFTER the car has been started ?

William Young Reply

Posted Sep 08, 2020 at 12:01:05

Nothing I suppose…other than it would be against the law and may result in a new DUI. However, it is very rare in DUI cases that someone becomes intoxicated while driving – 99.9% of the time they are intoxicated when they first put the keys in the car.

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