Covington Representative Mark Wright is working with Mothers Against Drunk Driving to pass a bill that would require drivers convicted of a first-offense DWI to install an in-car interlock device system in their vehicle for at least 180 days.
Wright says the interlock device will not let the car start unless it knows the driver is sober.
"It has a device in there that tests your blood-alcohol level and there’s some other security features of it to make sure it’s you and not somebody else who can start the car," said Wright.
Thirty-four states and the District of Columbia already have this law on their books. Wright says it could reduce repeated drunk driving offenses by up to 20 percent.
"It sort of rehabilitates the person against recidivism and kind of creates a habit and ideally you can prevent a death," he said.
The bill is awaiting its first hearing in the House Transportation Committee. Wright believes the legislation can receive House and Senate approval.
"I can imagine there will be some attorney’s questioning some of the process," Wright said, "but I think at the end of the day when people see the whole of what this would do, we’re going to save lives it’s just that simple."
