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.