A little more than 14 months since Illinois started allowing DUI offenders to drive with a Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Device (BAIID), Alton newspaper The Telegraph reported that it seems to be working as planned.
Illinois motorists convicted of a DUI used to face automatic suspension of driving privileges. But ever since Jan. 1, 2009 drunk-driving offenders could apply for a Monitoring Device Driving Permit (MDDP). The BAIID device is a small breathalyzer that locks the car's ignition until the driver proves his or her sobriety.
It's difficult to know exactly how effective the BAIID program really is, since so many factors are at play. However, the Illinois State Police reported 321 DUI-related deaths in 2009 (the year the law took effect), compared to 425 DUI-related deaths the year before. That's a nearly 25 percent drop.
Lt. Scott Evers of the Edwardsville Police Dept. said his department has noticed is a steep decline in fatal, DUI-related accidents, but he didn't provide exact figures:
"We're still writing pretty close to the same amount of DUIs we have in the past, but you don't get as many really drunk people where they're double or triple the limit."
The maximum blood-alcohol concentration allowed by the BAIID in order to start a vehicle is 0.05 percent, lower than the standard BAC limit. And if you blow above the limit, not only will the car not start but the BAC is automatically reported to the Secretary of State's Office.
Alton Police Chief David Hayes told reporters that his department has seen a roughly 20 percent decline in DUI, which he believes has to do with fewer arrests of repeat offenders who instead are driving with a BAIID device.
Statistics pertaining to the Chicago area were not discussed in the article.
If you have questions about DUI sentencing alternatives, talking to a Chicago DUI attorney may prove to be helpful. If you have general questions about BAAID and DUIs, please visit our Related Resources links.
Related Resources:
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Illinois Ups the Ante for First-Time DUI Offenders (FindLaw KnowledgeBase)
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Kansas House Passes Bill Strengthening DUI Punishments (Kansas City Star)
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Contact a Chicago DUI Attorney (FindLaw)
