Nebraska passes Ignition Interlock legislation, while ABI fights it in Ohio.
Sarah Longwell, who is the managing director for American Beverage Institute, was in the Ohio Statehouse last week. She seems to pop up just about anywhere ignition interlock laws are in the works lately. Ms. Longwell is obviously out fighting to protect the people that she represents and their profits, but at what cost? She made a comment that, "This bill mandates that people one sip away from 0.0799 receive a punishment normally reserved for high-(blood-alcohol-content), repeat offenders," Truth is most legislation gives increased sanctions for those who are repeat offenders. She has also made comments to the effect that ignition interlock legislation would prevent someone from having a beer at a ball game, or a glass of wine with dinner. She somehow forgets that ignition interlocks are not being installed on people who have not already shown a lack of ability to stay under the LEGAL limit of .08. Even though she says it is more dangerous to talk on a cell phone while driving than to be at .08.
Another interesting statement that she made, "While both have committed a crime, they are very different types of criminals.". I want to ask her how someone becomes a repeat offender without ever being a first time offender? She often tries to separate repeat offenders from 1st time offenders as two completely different groups of people. I know it may seem like a hard concept but repeat offenders were 1st time offenders at one point as well. As New Mexico has shown, implementing ignition interlocks for 1st time offenders has the ability to lower alcohol related accidents by 35%.
Even while the ABI opposes ignition interlock laws states are seeing through to the facts. Many states have ran and passed new or enhanced ignition interlock laws. Although the first time offender ignition interlock bill in Kansas this year will be studied over the summer, Nebraska Senate passed LB 497 this session.
LB 497 expands and broadens the use of ignition interlock in Nebraska. This bill now includes interlock for all first offenders who refuse to take a preliminary breath test. First time refusal now will end in the use of ignition interlock in Nebraska as well. LB 497 has been signed by the Governor and has an emergency clause that makes it effective immediately.