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Editor: Bob Battle
Profession: DUI Defense Lawyer

The Bradenton Herald reports that drunk drivers in the state of Florida who have high blood alcohol levels could soon be facing a more severe punishment for their first offense, having to breathe into a device to start their vehicles.

On Tuesday, March 11, a bill was discussed in the state's Senate that targets first-time offenders of driving under the influence who are caught having a blood alcohol level over 0.15 percent, which is nearly twice the legal limit of .08. A proposed law would require such offenders to blow into a device similar to a breathalyzer to get their vehicle to start for a period of six months. If someone is caught drunk driving with a blood alcohol level over 0.2 percent, the device will be installed for nearly a year.

Under the current laws in Florida, the only first-time DUI offenders who are required to have the "ignition interlock" device installed are those who register a blood alcohol level of over 0.2 percent.

Senator Stephen Wise (R-Jacksonville), the bill's sponsor, believes that it and a similar bill in the Florida House will reduce the number of fatalities related to DUI crashes.

On Tuesday, the bill was unanimously approved by the Senate Committee on Transportation.