Malloy Signs New Law Expanding Use of Interlocking Devices in DUI Cases

By Vincent Salzo

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy officially signed into law a new bill that expands the use of ignition interlocking devices on the vehicles of drivers that have been convicted of driving drunk after the first offense in a ceremony Monday at the Fairfield Police Department.

Malloy was joined by a bipartisan group of lawmakers and public safety officials, including representatives from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“This ignition interlock requirement is one of several more stringent penalties and measures we are implementing to combat and reduce the kinds of irresponsible behaviors — like impaired, distracted and reckless driving — that inevitably lead to crashes, injuries and death on our roads and highways,” Malloy said in a press release. “With the passage of this law, we have taken an important step towards protecting drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike.”

An ignition interlock is a device about the size of a cell phone that is wired into the ignition system of a vehicle. A convicted drunk driver must blow into the device in order to start their vehicle, according to the press release, and if they have a measurable amount of alcohol in their system, the vehicle will not start.

Fairfield Police Chief Gary MacNamara told the Connecticut Post that the department has made 78 DUI arrests this year, which accounts to one every two days, and through “proper enforcement, education and effective legislation, which we are seeing being signed here today, we can stop DUIs from occurring.”

The new law, which goes into effect July 1, 2015, was passed by the General Assembly during the last legislative sessions and affects penalties imposed when a person is administratively found to have violated drunk driving laws or is convicted of DUI.

Specifically, the law:

Reduces the license suspension period for all administrative per se violations to 45 days, but imposes ignition interlock requirements after the suspension ends;

Eliminates the 90-day waiting period for a special operator’s permit for a first administrative per se violation for refusing to submit to a blood alcohol content (BAC) test;

Changes the required license suspension period for someone who fails to use an IID as required;

Allows the DMV commissioner to impose IID requirements on Connecticut residents following an out-of-state DUI conviction that occurs within 10 years of a previous DUI conviction in Connecticut or another state; and

Decreases, in some cases, the suspension period for drivers under age 21 who are convicted of DUI for the second time.

Janice Margolis, the executive director of MAAD Connecticut, said that she expect the new law to save lives in the state.

“MADD CT is very pleased to join 24 other states to sign into law an all offender ignition interlock device statue with Governor Malloy and LT Governor Wyman,” she said in a press release. “Research from the CDC indicates that first time offenders have driven drunk at least 80 times before they are arrested. Ignition Interlock Devices are effective in reducing repeat drunk driving offenses by 67 percent.”

(Photo: Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signs new bill into law at the Fairfield Police Department on Monday. Photo courtesy of the Office of the Governor’s Facebook page.)