Arizona Lawmakers Consider Repeal of DUI Law

Effort to amend recently signed legislation that requires ignition interlock devices for drunk driving

Arizona state legislators are pushing a new bill that would repeal a recently approved anti-DUI measure. Just last month Governor Janet Napolitano signed into law legislation requiring that all motorists convicted of Arizona DUI install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles. Now legislators are claiming they had incomplete and even erroneous facts surrounding the impact of interlock devices on drunk driving accident statistics.

Ignition interlock devices prohibit a car from being started until the motorist provides a virtually alcohol free breath sample. They also require periodic tests while the car is in operation to ensure the driver is sober. Arizona law previously required interlock devices after someone had been convicted of multiple DUI offenses or had registered a blood alcohol content in excess of 0.15, also termed extreme drunk driving. The recently passed legislation extended the interlock requirement to everyone convicted of drunk driving, even first time DUI offenders.

During discussion on last month’s bill, statistics citing accident reductions from the installation of interlock devices after a first time DUI were provided by the state of New Mexico. New Mexico is the only other state in the country that requires ignition interlock devices for all DUI offenders. It has since come to light that the statistics on the impact of ignition interlocks covered all DUI arrests as well as other traffic enforcement measures. That dilutes the perceived benefit of mandatory interlock devices for first time offenders.

Opponents also cite reports of mixed results on the ineffectiveness of interlock devices. Others are concerned about motorists who rely solely on the use of a motorcycle. As interlock devices cannot be installed on them, the result would be no form of personal transportation. The high cost of installing and renting an ignition interlock device has also been discussed, with a concern on family budgets.

Gov. Napolitano has said she would veto any measure that relaxes the new DUI law.