Virginia Legislature Revives Bill To Install Ignition-Interlock Devices In Vehicles Of First-Time DUI Offenders

The Henrico Citizen reports that the Virginia Senate Courts of Justice Committee recently reconsidered and revived legislation which would require all offenders of driving under the influence, even if it is their first offense, to have ignition interlock devices installed in their vehicles. The legislation was passed by both chambers.

On March 3, the Senate Courts of Justice Committee reconsidered House Bill 1442, which the House had already passed. The following day, the Senate passed the bill with substitute legislation and the House passed it unanimously a day later.

The revised bill not only requires the implementation of ignition interlocks after the first DUI conviction, the administrative fee is also raised from $20 to $75.

If the convicted driver is indigent or prohibited from driving a school or commercial vehicle, the bill also allows for the device's cost to be paid out of the criminal fund.

Also added to the bill, which will go into effect on October 1 of this year, is that a $30 monthly fee will be mandatory for the DUI offender.

Delegate Salvatore Iaquinto (R-Virginia Beach), the sponsor of the bill, says that ensuring DUI offenders do not repeat the offense is the only way to ensure that convicted offenders no longer harm people. He believes the legislation will fill that purpose and make Virginia's roadways safer.

The alcohol-ignition interlock device is essentially a Breathalyzer linked to a vehicle's ignition system. The vehicle will not start until the driver blows into the device. Then, the driver's blood-alcohol level must be below the set limit of 0.02 for the vehicle to start.

Under current Virginia law, ignition interlocks are required to be installed in the vehicles of multiple DUI offenders or first-time offenders whose blood-alcohol level registers above 0.15, which is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08.