12-31-2008, 02:49 PM
Here's some more info for you. Expensive!
Stricter DUI laws for 2009
In-car breath tests may be required for first-time offenders
December 31, 2008
BY NICHOLAS ALAJAKIS <!-- e --><a href="mailto:nalajakis@scn1.com">nalajakis@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
The new year is bringing even more incentive for Illinois motorists to not drink and drive.
Beginning tomorrow, first-time offenders of the state's DUI laws will face longer license suspensions and may be required to equip vehicles with breath-operated ignition locks.
"Hopefully with longer suspensions people will take the (DUI) laws more seriously," said Cmdr. Gabe Guzman, who heads up the Waukegan Police Department's traffic division.
A new law is doubling the amount of time first-time offenders charged with DUI will have their driving privileges suspended. As it currently stands, anyone who fails a breath test during a DUI investigation faces a three month license suspension during a statutory summary suspension period. And anyone who refuses a breath test faces an automatic six-month suspension.
In the new year, a failed Breathalyzer test will result in a six-month suspension and a refusal will equal a year suspension. Also changing is the issuance of ignition lock systems.
Anyone serving a suspension that wishes to drive will have to equip their vehicle with an ignition lock that only works if the vehicle's operator blows into a device that measures his or her blood-alcohol content. The ignition device all but eliminates the previous system which required court orders for DUI offenders to drive to work and school.
Installing the device won't be cheap. In addition to an initial $100 fee, rental of the system costs $110 a month.
The new penalties are aimed to deter people from drinking and driving, said Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller.
"Now, if you're a first offender, the consequences are going to be even more significant then they were in the past," Waller said.
The harsher consequences could lead to more work for Waller's office. With stiffer penalties in place, Waller said he expects more people will contest DUI arrests in court.
It is likely that offenders will want to contest anything that could interfere with their driving privileges, said Joyce Bartizal, an Antioch attorney specializing in DUI arrests.
"For most of my clients their most important thing is when they get (their) license back -- when can they drive," Bartizal said.
The actions in court aside, if the new law leads to less people driving while drunk, those on the front lines say they'll be pleased.
"I completely support what the state is doing and I'm very happy that they are being more aggressive," Guzman said.
Stricter DUI laws for 2009
In-car breath tests may be required for first-time offenders
December 31, 2008
BY NICHOLAS ALAJAKIS <!-- e --><a href="mailto:nalajakis@scn1.com">nalajakis@scn1.com</a><!-- e -->
The new year is bringing even more incentive for Illinois motorists to not drink and drive.
Beginning tomorrow, first-time offenders of the state's DUI laws will face longer license suspensions and may be required to equip vehicles with breath-operated ignition locks.
"Hopefully with longer suspensions people will take the (DUI) laws more seriously," said Cmdr. Gabe Guzman, who heads up the Waukegan Police Department's traffic division.
A new law is doubling the amount of time first-time offenders charged with DUI will have their driving privileges suspended. As it currently stands, anyone who fails a breath test during a DUI investigation faces a three month license suspension during a statutory summary suspension period. And anyone who refuses a breath test faces an automatic six-month suspension.
In the new year, a failed Breathalyzer test will result in a six-month suspension and a refusal will equal a year suspension. Also changing is the issuance of ignition lock systems.
Anyone serving a suspension that wishes to drive will have to equip their vehicle with an ignition lock that only works if the vehicle's operator blows into a device that measures his or her blood-alcohol content. The ignition device all but eliminates the previous system which required court orders for DUI offenders to drive to work and school.
Installing the device won't be cheap. In addition to an initial $100 fee, rental of the system costs $110 a month.
The new penalties are aimed to deter people from drinking and driving, said Lake County State's Attorney Michael Waller.
"Now, if you're a first offender, the consequences are going to be even more significant then they were in the past," Waller said.
The harsher consequences could lead to more work for Waller's office. With stiffer penalties in place, Waller said he expects more people will contest DUI arrests in court.
It is likely that offenders will want to contest anything that could interfere with their driving privileges, said Joyce Bartizal, an Antioch attorney specializing in DUI arrests.
"For most of my clients their most important thing is when they get (their) license back -- when can they drive," Bartizal said.
The actions in court aside, if the new law leads to less people driving while drunk, those on the front lines say they'll be pleased.
"I completely support what the state is doing and I'm very happy that they are being more aggressive," Guzman said.