Senators Announce PA Legislation Cracking Down On DUI
New Pennsylvania legislation will be working to ensure safer roads across the Commonwealth.
Act 33 which was introduced in May is a law that now requires and first time-offenders convicted of DUI with a blood alcohol content of .10 or higher to install an ignition interlock device into their car for 12 months.
"I think its really going to perform a multi-fold purpose all for the betterment of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania," John Rafferty, Pennsylvania Senator said.
The device would be installed in the car at the cost of the driver. It would require the operator to blow into the device before starting the car. If the person passes, then the car can be turned on. If they fail the test and alcohol is detected, the car will not start and the person will have to try again in five minutes.
The person can then try two more times before the car will require maintenance within five days or the car will be shut down permanently.
"We're talking about safety for people about the commonwealth and this particular device is going to save lives," Sean Wiley, Pennsylvania Senator said.
To be permitted to drive, offenders must apply to PennDOT for an ignition interlock license. This license allows people that were convicted of a DUI to drive to places like work, church or family events. This cannot be applied for and granted until 60 days after the initial conviction took place.
For families like Wiley's, he hopes it saves the pain of losing people to drunk driving accidents.
"My family has been a victim of a death of driving under the influence," Wiley said. "We need to do everything we possibly can to minimize the number of families that have to go through that."
A majority of the legislation will take effect in August of 2017. Wiley believes this is just the one step to preventing drunk driving in Pennsylvania.
"There's so much work to do and the work wont be done until we don't see drunk driving as an issue in this Commonwealth and that's what were going to continue striving for," Wiley said.