Story Published:
Jan 8, 2009 at 5:49 PM CST
Story Updated:
Jan 8, 2009 at 6:30 PM CST
About a week into the New Year and local officials say they have some concerns about a new law.
Starting this year, first time DUI offenders can stay on the road with a new device.
With a strong pair of lungs and a sober body, this device can start your car.
"You will not be able to operate a car if you've been drinking. The amount of DUI offenders will be reduced to practically nothing in theory", said John Vespa Attorney At Law.
That's at least one of the goals of the new law.
Business owners like Loydd Thurman say they've already been installing these devices for quite a few years.
"We've been doing this since 2000 and I've never seen one person that we've had to install it again and if they are they're going someplace else
I don't know but we've never had a repeat offender", said Thurman.
Before the driver gets on the road the driver has to first blow into this device. The device will register if they driver's been drinking and the vehicle will not start if that's the case.
Thurman also said, "Within 10 to 15 minutes it will take another retest. They have to then retest against, blow and such and do whatever the machine takes and then it's random from there...the whole time they're driving they have to take random re–tests."
While officials hope the device will be a breath of fresh air for drivers, they're concerned it might backlog certain state offices.
The bottom line is the secretary of state's office workload is going to increase dramatically", said Tazewell County States Attorney Stewart Ulmholtz.
"Every DUI defendant now can have this and if everyone opts to have it that will be a lot of people for the secretary of state's office to process and one of the main concerns is will they be able to process it", said Vespa.
Another concern some have is the hefty price tag.
By the time they get all the re-calibrations done they could cost probably $1000 t0 $1500 a year.
It's a price that some hope will save more lives in the long run.
"The increase cost actually will provide an incentive for individuals not to drink in drive", said Ulmholtz.
In Pekin, Michelle Mantel News 25.
Thursday, Jan 8 at 9:37 PM nameless wrote ...
It should be interesting to see how law enforcement will keep track of occupants blowing in the devices for their friends to drive when the police force can't keep kids from driving while texting on their cell phones... I believe this law will help but the law itself will need some help to succeed!