Jesse White - Illinois Secretary of State

Secretary of State Jesse White and Mothers Against Drunk Driving teamed up last week to back legislation requiring DUI offenders to have breathalyzers installed in their vehicles.

The law, effective January 1, 2009, aims to prevent those convicted of a DUI from making the same mistake twice. Motorists who wish to receive special driving privileges while their license is suspended must install a breath alcohol ignition interlock device in their vehicles.

"The concept is, tragically enough people who have drinking and driving problems still get into cars even if their license has been suspended, and this is meant to get more sober people into automobiles," Dave Druker, a representative from the Secretary of State's office, said.

In the year 2006 alone the state had 444 fatalities as a result of drunk drivers. Nationally that number totaled 13,470.

"We believe it is going to go a long way in terms of saving lives on the roads of Illinois," Druker said.

BAIIDs are currently used in about 3,000 cars in the state of Illinois. Four other states, Hawaii, Florida, Virginia and West Virginia, have a similar rule that requires first-time offenders with a blood alcohol reading of .15 or greater to drive with a BAIID in their car.

According to Trisha Clegg, affiliate executive director of Illinois MADD, past offenders must register a reading of zero in order for their vehicle to start.

Those convicted are responsible for all costs that go along with BAIID, including installation for $100 and rental and monitoring fees of about $110.

"Depending on the company who installed it, there could be a fee for the removal of it as well," Clegg said.

Clegg also said that Illinois is one of several states implementing this new method of prevention. Others include Arizona, Louisiana, Washington, Nebraska, Colorado and Alaska.

Various other changes in the DUI conviction process also come with the BAIID program. Drivers who failed the original blood alcohol level test will now receive a six-month license suspension as opposed to three originally.

In addition, offenders who refused to submit to a blood level test but were later found guilty now will have their driving privilege revoked for 12 months, an increase from the previous six-month punishment.

The program will run without the help of taxpayers and solely on the steep fines DUI offenders are forced to pay.