New DUI Law To Take Effect In California

California - Four counties in California, Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare, will be the first to test a new DUI law requiring first time offenders to have an ignition interlock installed in their cars. With the device, offenders have to register a 0.0% to be able to start their vehicles. Assemblyman Mike Feuer, D-Los Angeles. “This is a piece of legislation that will really matter at the community level.”

Most offenders will be required to pay a $125 installation fee, a $45 DMV fee, and a $60 a month service charge. First time offenders will have to have the ingnition interlocks for 5 months, second offenders for 12 months, third offender for 24 months, and fourth offenders for 36 months.

Read the article, “Calif. DUI law among those taking effect this week” by Don Thompson - Associated Press Writer

300,000 Californias have THREE or more DUI’s!

California has an evergrowing problem with repeat drunk drivers. Right now there are over 300,000 drivers that have THREE or more DUI conviction, and 40,000 of those have FIVE or more convictions. In 2007, drunk drivers were involved in more then 53,000 accidents, killing over 1500 people in California. It is statistics like these that show a need for a new, better way to combat drunk driving. We need to fight this problem at its source, the establishment where people are drinking. Drunk driving accidents account for around 20% of all auto insurance payments in California.

Read the article ” Editorial:300,000 repeat DUI offenders? Time to act!”