Health & Fitness
New CT DUI Law Effective 7/1/15 - 'An Act Concerning Ignition Interlock Devices'
WARNING - Think twice before drinking and driving in CT.
On 7/1/15 a new will take effect in CT, in an effort to deter driving under the influence (DUI), while also strengthening the state’s ignition interlock requirements authorizing the Department of Motor Vehicles to administratively require ignition interlock devices to be installed on cars of first-time DUI offenders.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “All 50 states have some sort of ignition interlock law. Twenty one states - Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and West Virginia - have mandatory ignition interlock provisions for all offenses.” To learn more you can visit http://www.ncsl.org/research/transportation/state-ignition-interlock-laws.aspx
According to a National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 2010 report “ Alcohol-impaired driving kills more than 10,000 people in the United States each year, making driving while intoxicated one of our Nation’s most important highway safety issues. Increasingly, States are using ignition interlocks as a key part of their overall strategy to reduce the incidence of DWI and to save lives.”
Find out what's happening in Greenwichfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
CT Public Act 14-228 “An Act Concerning Ignition Interlock Devices”
The new CT law modifies the periods of time that a license is suspended if a person is arrested for a drunk/drug driving offense, and will require the motor vehicle operator to have an ignition interlock device installed and maintained on all vehicles owned or operated by the person for extended periods of time, based on the number of convictions.
Find out what's happening in Greenwichfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
All costs of installing and maintaining an ignition interlock device are the responsibility of the person required to install such device, and such fees or costs may not be waived by the court.
A Word from Governor Daniel P. Malloy
At the time Governor Malloy signed this new law he stated, “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,”
The Governor went on to say, “With the passage of this law, we have taken an important step towards protecting drivers, passengers and pedestrians alike. I want to give a special thanks to our partners in this effort, Representative Fox, Senator Coleman, the MADD organization and the law enforcement community. Together, we are making Connecticut’s roads safer for all who use them.”
What is an Ignition Interlock Device?
An ignition interlock device, also known as a breath alcohol ignition interlock device, is installed on a motor vehicle’s dashboard. and operates like a breathalyzer.
This device is approximately the size of a cell phone, which is connected into the car’s ignition system. Once the ignition interlock device has been installed, a person must blow into the device, in order to start the car. If the person blowing into the device has a measurable level of alcohol in their system, the car will NOT start.
Are Ignition Interlock Device Effective?
According to the April 2012 “Case Study of Ignition Interlock Programs” conducted by the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration -
“Interlocking devices have been shown to deter drinking and driving and DUI offenders using interlocks have acknowledged that the devices have changed their behavior.”
“Ignition interlocks reduce recidivism during the time period the devices are installed. Drivers who have interlocks installed are 35% to 75% less likely to acquire a repeat drunk-driving offense than convicted drunk drivers who do not have a device installed (Marques and Voas, 2009). Moreover, interlocks are as effective for first offenders as they are for repeat offenders (Marques and Voas, 2009).
To Learn More About This New Law
If you would like to read a copy of Public Act 14-228 “An Act Concerning Ignition Interlock Devices” click on this link http://www.cga.ct.gov/2014/act/pa/pdf/2014PA-00228-R00SB-00465-PA.pdf
IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP
Remember that help is only a phone call away!
CT
Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
P.O. Box 341431, MS-14 COM
New York State Office of Mental Health
44 Holland Avenue
Albany, NY 12229
518-474-4403
Fax: 518-474-2149
New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance
450 Western Avenue
Albany, NY 12203
518-457-2061
Fax: 518-457-5474
http://www.oasas.ny.gov/index.cfm
SAMHSA’s National Helpline
1-800-662-HELP (4357)
TTY: 1-800-487-4889
Veteran’s Crisis Line
A.A. (Alcoholics Anonymous)
A.A. World Services, Inc.
New York, NY
212-870-3400
Find an AA near you - http://www.aa.org
Al-Anon
Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc.
For friends and family members of a problem drinker
757-563-1600
Photo from The PrintShop
The information in this article is provided as an information resource only, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. This information is not intended to be patient education, does not create any patient provider relationship, and should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis and treatment.
Please consult your health care provider for an appointment, before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition.
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Linda Ziac is the owner and founder of The Caregiver Resource Center. Linda founded her company in October 1990, and provides concierge case management and advocacy services for seniors, people with special needs and families.
Linda’s professional career spans 40 years in the health and mental health field as a CT Licensed Professional Counselor, CT Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor, Board Certified Case Manager, and Board Certified Dementia Practitioner.
Linda’s role is to work with the client, their family and healthcare professionals to help assess, plan for and implement ways to allow for their greatest degree of health, safety, independence, and quality of life. We are often asked to help when a person is taken to the ER, is in the hospital, or there is a need to help assess and implement a plan to address a person’s day to day needs.
This process involves identifying a client’s abilities and needs, and helping to design a care plan (road map) that is composed of a spectrum of services, that best meets the unique needs of that particular client. A client and their family select the services that they want, and they only pay for those services.
