Tennessee bill mandates ignition interlocks for first-time DUI offenders

June 27, 2013

With the passage of a recent bill, Tennessee lawmakers are signaling yet again that they are dedicated to reducing drunk driving accidents on Tennessee roadways. The bill - which was signed by the Governor last month and will become effective on July 1 - will require the installation of ignition interlock devices (IID) as a precondition for the issuance of restricted drivers' licenses to those convicted of drunk driving in Tennessee. This new law will apply to both first-time offenders and those with several drunk driving convictions.

Essentially, an IID is a piece of equipment that, once installed in a motor vehicle, will prevent the motor vehicle from being started until the driver blows into the device to prove he or she is not intoxicated. Essentially, the idea is that if drunk drivers are unable to start their cars, they cannot cause accidents on the road. In fact, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) report that other states will similar laws have experienced drops in drunk driving deaths by as much as 30 percent.

Ignition interlock devices and restricted drivers' licenses in Tennessee

Under current Tennessee law, when a driver is convicted of a DUI - and subsequently his or her license is revoked - he or she can still apply for a restricted driver's license. However, currently IID installation is not required for the issuance of a restricted license for all DUI offenders in Tennessee. Moreover, first-time DUI offenders are not required to install IIDs as a precondition for restrictive licenses unless their offense involved certain circumstances - for instance, if they had a blood-alcohol-content (BAC) of 0.15 percent or higher at the time of arrest.

However, once the new law takes effect on July 1 - otherwise known as House Bill 353 - IIDs will be mandatory for all Tennessee DUI offenders as a precondition for restricted drivers' licenses, even if it is their first drunk driving conviction.

In addition, the new law will require all IIDs to be equipped with technology that will not only record the date, time and result of the breath test, but also take a picture of the person blowing into the device. Some believe this additional security feature will help ensure drunk drivers do not use sober passengers - such as children - to blow into the IIDs in order to get the car started.

Hopefully, once these changes in the law take effect it will help keep drunk drivers off the roads in Tennessee. However, those who have already suffered an injury due to a drunk driver need to know that they still have options available. For example, they may be entitled to damages for medical bills and lost wages, or, punitive damages may also be available.

Consequently, if a drunk driver has injured you or a loved one it is often best to seek the counsel of a knowledgeable drunk driving accident attorney. A skilled attorney can review the facts of your case and help outline what your rights and options may be given your circumstances.

Article provided by Kinnard, Clayton & Beveridge
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