California is looking at a bill introduced Monday designed to make people who drive under the influence less of a problem on the road.
The bill, introduced by state Sen. Jerry Hill, would have "ignition interlock devices" installed in the vehicles of first-time DUI offenders and would be tasked with sensing if the driver has been drinking. If so, the engine will not start, according to PC Magazine.
"California needs to do a better job of reducing deaths and injuries from drunk drivers," said Hill, D-San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. "Ignition interlocks save lives and can be an effective countermeasure to reduce DUI recidivism."
First-time offenders would have the device installed in their cars for six months, and second-time offenders would have the device installed in their cars for a year, Tech Times reported. While the auto ignition lock is currently already used in four California counties - Los Angeles, Tulare, Alameda and Sacramento - as part of a pilot program, this new bill would expand the program statewide.
While ignition interlock supporters believe the tool does a great job at bringing down the number of DUI cases, those who oppose it believe the device costs too much money and is a burden for offenders.
The interlock needs a breath sample before the engine starts and prevents the engine from starting after detecting a blood alcohol level that's too high, PC Magazine reported.
Data cited by Hill states that drunk driving is responsible for more than 50,000 deaths in California and more than one million injuries for the past 30 years. However, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control discovered the effectiveness of these devices, as they have led to a 67 percent decline in repeat drunk driving offenses.
