State May Get Tougher on First-Time DUI Offenders
The Senate Judiciary Committee recently approved a bill that would change the State’s drunk driving laws, particularly for first-time offenders.(1)
The bill would require everyone convicted of a DUI to have an ignition-locking device installed in their cars, even first-time offenders, t. The device requires the driver to take a breath test before starting the car. If alcohol is detected, the car’s ignition will lock. Currently New Jersey only requires installation of these devices for repeat offenders or first-time offenders with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.15 or higher. New Jersey’s legal limit is 0.08. (1)
The theory behind this change is that the objective of the law is not so much to punish drunk drivers as to prevent future DUI-related accidents. Statistics show that in 2010, drivers under the influence of alcohol were involved in 102 fatal accidents in the State. (2)