Kentucky’s House Judiciary Committee took a second look at Senator Whitney Westerfield’s interlock ignition device bill to reduce the number of repeat DUI’s in Kentucky and the bill appears to have a good chance to make it to the governor’s desk.
The committee approved Senate Bill 85, which would make first-time DUI offenders eligible to have the devices placed in their vehicles. The individual would then have to prove he or she is sober by providing a breath sample through the device before the vehicle would start.
Kentucky already has laws regarding interlock devices, but Senator Westerfield says they are not used nearly enough. That’s a problem, considering Kentucky’s relatively high rate of DUI fatality crashes.
He says statistics show use of interlock devices has been successful in reducing those rates in other states.
Senate Bill 85 was voted down in committee last week, but Senator Westerfield says he and other supporters met with lawmakers who voted no and addressed some concerns.
He expects bipartisan support in the House and Senate to get it to Governor Matt Bevin’s desk.
Critics of the bill say it would put an increased financial burden on offenders already facing increased insurance premiums and that may cause more to drive uninsured on a suspended license—as the bill also lengthens suspensions for DUI offenders who do not get the device in their vehicle.