As we speak, Driving under the Influence of Alcohol or a Prohibited Substance (DUI) continues to be a major problem in the state of Nevada, especially on its most opulent cities like Las Vegas where alcohol and drugs are rife and where vehicles are increasing in numbers. In 2015, DUI crashes took lives of 10,265 people across the country with Nevada one of the prime contributors of the volume.
While alcohol and prohibited substances continue to exist, they will be overly consumed. This is one reason why DUI is a difficult case to eradicate completely but this does not mean that curbing it is impossible.
To strengthen its crusade against drunk and drugged driving, the state of Nevada passed a new legislation that will bar previous DUI offenders from using their vehicles once they show signs of being intoxicated.
Interested in this new law? Below are further information and in-depth (but not too in-depth) details.
Senate Bill 259
In the middle of 2017, the Nevada Legislature handed a brand new bill that seeks to regulate driving luxuries of first-time DUI offenders through the installation of a Breathalyzer right at their steering wheels.
The mandate is that a DUI offender who is waiting for a trial must blow on the device whenever they want to use a vehicle. If their blood alcohol concentration exceeds the limit, the device which is connected to the ignition will prevent the car from moving.
Officially declared as Senate Bill 259, the new Nevada law was supported by Senator Mark Manendo and Assemblyman Richard Carrillo and requires anyone who was arrested for DUI have their cars be installed with the interlock device for at least six months in order to stop repeat cases as trial waiting times take a lot of time.
The particular device is designed to be foolproof with a specialized camera mounted on it to monitor if the one who tested the interlock is actually the DUI offender. If the court finds out that the driver tricked the machine by letting other people breath on the mouthpiece, additional and heavier consequences to the DUI case might incur.
Judges can now reinforce interlock devices on vehicles of DUI offenders if, through sound judgment and due to enough evidence, they think the offender can easily revert back to their old intoxicated habits.
By October 1, 2018, after being favored by the Assembly, the bill was officially effective and its implementation had begun rolling out in all the regions of the state. Of course, the interlock devices that will be fitted into vehicles should be of the standard design and from authorized vendors only. Nevada currently has 32 certified interlock centers.
Reaction of the Communities
At the time it was signed, the bill was met with celebration and acclaim. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) were supportive of the new law, citing that it will be a great help to prevent current DUI arrestees be repeat offenders. DUI victims, evidently, are joyous about the innovative bill, thankful that no other people can be harmed due to substance-influenced driving.
Aside from the new interlock device law, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety noted Nevada’s proactive steps in improving its road safety while also suggesting that children younger than two years old be put in rear-facing seats in case someone intoxicated is driving the car.
Also, just recently, Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety released a report that showed the standing of Nevada when it comes to road safety. Previously tagged with a red flag, the state now has a yellow indicator, a clear proof of all the effort the Nevada government put to not only prevent DUI incidents but also make the roads feel much safer.
Impact on DUI
Before its directive to be applied to all those who are arrested for DUI, interlock devices were already installed in more than 2,000 vehicles in 2017 and now is expected to grow in numbers of at least 10,000 in a span of two years.
Now, Nevada is one of the 30 other states that enforce an interlock device law and like the other states, the system of DUI is not subject to change. Aside from penalties such as fees and license suspension, even for a while the luxury of driving will be taken away. Another one of the potential changes is the job of law enforcers are now even easier as those who are arrested for DUI cannot hit the road with their vehicles, giving police officers more time to focus on other DUI threats. Of course, DUI-related incidents are expected to plunge. According to CDC (Center for Disease Control) in Atlanta, driving accidents can reduce to 70 percent when an ignition interlock device is at use. People can now have a peace of mind—to be in public without the fear of repeat DUI offenders harming them.
Still, even with its obvious positive repercussions, no one can accurately predict the ultimate outcome of this new interlock device law but what is certain is that it points to what is good. If you are accused of DUI and are facing implication of the new interlock device law, better enlist the aid of a DUI attorney!
Las Vegas Criminal Defense Attorney Ross Goodman
520 S 4th St, Las Vegas, NV 89101, USA
(702) 383 – 5088