Phoenix DUI Accident Victim Attorneys
Attorney Representation in Phoenix, Arizona Since 1996
Arizona Car Injury Lawyers Discuss the New DUI Ignition Interlock Requirement
As Arizona car accident attorneys, we are interested in the new DUI ignition interlock requirement that went into effect January 1, 2012. The new change affects first-time DUI offenders who, before this date, had to use an ignition interlock device for an entire year. As of January 1, 2012, the first time someone is caught driving under the influence, they will have to use an ignition interlock device for only six months, according to news reports in Fox 10. An ignition interlock device will not allow a person’s car to start if it detects any alcohol on the driver’s breath.
Could Arizona Car Accidents Increase?
There are many people who are unhappy that Senator Linda Gray proposed this change, saying that they worry six months is not long enough to teach drunk drivers a lesson. Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) are also unhappy with the new change. They argue that deaths have decreased from drunk driving, so if the system is working, why change it? Those opposed to the new change also argue that one year makes someone really think before entering a car while impaired ever again, while six months may only be a slap on the wrist. As Arizona DUI accident victim lawyers, we know how serious drunk-driving-related collisions can be, and we support any law that reduces drunk driving accidents.
Arizona Car Accident Statistics
There were 210 alcohol-related car accident fatalities in 2010 as opposed to 399 in 2006 before the ignition interlock devices were required. There were nearly 5,500 drunk-driving accidents in 2010, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation, resulting in 3,724 people being injured. This was down from the years before, when there were 8,218 alcohol-related accidents in 2006 and 7,938 in 2007. In fact, the numbers show that the ignition interlock device has nearly cut the number of alcohol-related accidents in half.
How Can An Arizona Personal Injury Attorney Help?
As Arizona serious injury attorneys, the Husband and Wife Law Team supports and advocates for victims hurt by drunk drivers. We take alcohol-related Arizona car crashes very seriously. We work to make sure those victims receive the best possible medical care while we hold the drunk driver responsible. In some cases, we file for punitive damages, which are meant to further punish the offender and compensate the victims. Contact us today at Breyer Law Offices, P.C. for a free consultation.
