New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is considering whether to enact a proposed law which would alter the penalties for people convicted of driving while intoxicated (DWI).
The New Jersey State Senate recently passed the bill by a vote of 29 to 4. Afterwards, the bill was sent to Christie’s desk for final approval.
If Christie ultimately decides to approve the bill, New Jersey drivers who are convicted of a first offense DWI will no longer be subject to mandatory 3-month suspensions of their licenses. Instead, first-time DWI offenders will potentially have their drivers’ licenses suspended for just 10 days.
However, the proposed legislation would make one DWI penalty harsher: first-time DWI offenders would be required to install ignition interlock devices on their primary vehicles. Current DWI law calls for mandatory installation of these breath testing devices only for first-time offenders with an extremely high blood alcohol concentration (BAC).
The proposed law would require the devices for first-time offenders who register a BAC of .08 percent or higher. If the first-time offender’s BAC is between .10 percent and .15 percent, the device could be required for up to 1 year.
Ignition interlock devices prevent drunk drivers from starting their cars. As a result, the devices are very effective at reducing drunk driving accidents.
The proposed bill has received widespread support from several organizations, including New Jersey Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). According to MADD, 24 states already have laws like this on the books. In many of these states, there has been a noticeable decline in drunk driving-related deaths.
Governor Christie will have to render a decision on the bill within 45 days.
To learn more about this bill, check out the NJ.com article entitled “Major Changes to N.J. Drunk Driving Law Reach Christie’s Desk.”
