New DUI laws should help battle against drunk driving
The 2011 legislative session was not an easy one for lawmakers in Montgomery as there were several key issues facing Alabama.
In addition to tackling school funding, balancing a budget and many making many more tough decisions, the Legislature decided to catch up with the rest of the nation in one vital area — DUI laws.
With the passage of House Bill 361, Alabama becomes the last of the 50 states to implement the use of ignition interlock devices. These devices prohibit a car from cranking if the driver has a blood alcohol level is higher than 0.02.
Senate Bill 67 doubles the penalties for drunk driving for any person convicted of driving with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher.
The fight against drunk driving has been a long struggle for many states and Alabama is no different. With these pieces of legislation enacted law enforcement officials have a powerful new set of tools to discourage drunk driving.
It is about time the legislature took steps to battle a problem that causes many deaths and countless injuries every year on Alabama’s roads.
