Some Arizona Legislators Thinking Rationally About Proposed DUI Law
An amendment to a proposed Arizona DUI law is holding up passage of the new law. Some Arizona legislators are stalling the proposed law due to a provision requiring first-time DUI offenders to get ignition interlocks. Several areas around the United States are attempting to require first-time DUI offenders to get interlocks.
The purpose of the Arizona law is to increase penalties for drivers convicted of extreme-DUI. The law would send drivers with a blood alcohol level (BAC) of 0.20 to jail for 45 days. The legal limit for DUI in Arizona is a BAC of 0.80 percent.
A recent amendment to the proposed law would require ignition interlocks for any driver convicted of having a BAC of at least 0.08 percent. The interlock would prevent a driver from starting or operating his vehicle unless he can provide a clean breath-test. Enough legislators are against this interlock provision to hold up the law.