Officials tout ignition interlock system for repeat DUI offenders
Officials tout ignition interlock system for repeat DUI offenders
By Mark Leberfinger, mleberfinger at altoonamirror.com
POSTED: October 26, 2007
HOLLIDAYSBURG — About 200 drivers across the region go through a similar ritual every day.
They open their vehicle’s door, sit down, put the key in the ignition and blow into a tube. The vehicle won’t start if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath.
That precaution, known as ignition interlock, is in place because each of the drivers is a repeat drunken driving offender.
Officials from PennDOT, state police, the Pennsylvania DUI Association and the Blair County DUI Task Force demonstrated the ignition interlock system Thursday at the PennDOT garage on North Juniata Street.
A judge doesn’t mandate the interlock system for a DUI conviction; PennDOT does under state law.
Not only do drivers have to use the interlock system for a year, they also pay for the cost of installing, monitoring and maintaining the system in their vehicles. The costs are about $1,000 each, Cathy Tress of the DUI Association said.
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