Live In NY And Caught Drunk Driving? Guess What You'll Have To Pony Up Some Bills For...

Actually, this sounds like a good idea, at least in theory. If you haven't been caught driving drunk in the first place, then you won't have one of these contraptions installed in your car. And then, if you're not over the legal limit, your car should still start and you'll be on your way.

OTOH, the monthly lease charges do seem excessive. How much do these things cost anyway? Are they easy to install? I suppose that the installer would end up screwing up your dashboard (all that connolly hide and genuine walnut scratched and ruined) and screwing up your electrical system.

Maybe it would be cheaper to just buy one. Speaking of which, a lot of parents might want to buy one of these for their teenage kids.

whats to say someone clever gets another person walking on the street to breath into it to start the car and they make a quick $50-$100 just to breath in this thing.....like Chaordic1 said "Actually, this sounds like a good idea, at least in theory". I lived in NY all my life and this isnt going to stop drunk driving there will be someone who will know a way around it remeber rules are made to be broken never forget that. Now i dont condone mixing alcohol with driving u might as well go shopping for a tomb stone before you go out that night....

B7FAN, I envision hookers prowling bar parking lots offering "blow jobs" and letting you decide which kind you'd like.

I wonder if this could also be a boon for valet parking outfits. I'm not sure if these devices kill the ignition if the driver's seat becomes unoccupied (like passenger-airbag seat sensors), but if they don't, a valet attendant could make some extra coin by not turning the ignition off.

Are you okay? *raises eyebrow*

What the hell are you talking about?

How about just taking their driver's license away? Say a minimum of a year for a first offense....then 10 years for a second offense.

ding ding ding, we have a winner. that is one of the best ideas.

i think he gotta point because like any thing else there WILL be ways around this that someone will figure out quite quickly and sell his or her idea

A year for a first offense is rediculous. Everyone fkucs up in life at one point or another. Give them a big fine as a first offense. A second offense can have the license taken away for 6 months to a year and after that its whatever the judge wants. Most people need a car to run a daily life. Taking that away from them for a first time mistake is too harsh. Not many people can afford public transportation every day.

They already do that here in Chicago AND at your expense! (not on first offenses though) A DUI is now a felony regardless too.

Lacman- you are correct, Cook County in Illinois did this a year or two ago. But here as with most things if you have enough money you can get out of it. I think you have to take a class, pay a huge fine and have your licensed suspended for a few months but you don't have to have that thing in your car.
T

A problem that is just as serious as driving after drinking is driving while severely fatigued (responsible for 100,000+ crashes per year). I wish this problem would get some attention.

People handle alcohol differently. I once in a while drink somewhat beyond the legal limit and am ok to drive home. So why should I be punished to the fullest extent if I haven't caused any harm? I know some will argue that you have to set laws to prevent people from getting to that point, but really, people will still get to that point regardless... except that those who know how much they can handle (even if they are beyond the legal limit) will have to pay for it too.

Besides, I think texting is worse than drinking but I don't see anyone going to jail for it or having to go through the above mentioned.

i don't think the "above mentioned" would work quite the same for texters.

Sorry, I have to call BS on this one, "I once in a while drink somewhat beyond the legal limit and am ok to drive home." First of all you're impaired, so how do you know you're driving okay--it seems that way to you? Second, every study I've ever read about drinking shows that anyone with a blood alchohol level at or above what most states set as the limit cannot safely operate a car. Oh sure you might be able to get away with creeping carefully home a few miles away, but if you were faced anything at all untoward ahead of you--you're toast! Worse yet, the other people encountered are toast as well.
Impaired driving is a public health issue because you expose innocent people to debilitating injuries and death as a result of your decision to drink, "...somewhat beyone the legal limit" and then get in your car and drive home.
Do your neighbors a favor, get a designated driver or call a taxi and stay off the roads.

BW

Bob W...

"First of all you're impaired, so how do you know you're driving okay --it seems that way to you?" Says me and passangers including sober ones...and statistics of my driving record of 10 yrs.

"Second, every study I've ever read about drinking shows that anyone with a blood alchohol level at or above what most states set as the limit cannot safely operate a car." I bet you similar results would be for many sober ones on their way to work everyday (Eating donuts, texting, phoning, tiredeness, etc.)

"if you were faced anything at all untoward ahead of you--you're toast!" Technically you are correct, but the difference in my reactions would not be enough to justify your point...and surely not toast!

"Do your neighbors a favor, get a designated driver or call a taxi and stay off the roads." Easier to suggest than do. Who should be my designated driver? My mother? Or would I have to pay someone or the taxi $200? What the hell, maybe I'll just get myself a Limo every time I go out.

I'm talking realistically here. We all know what the best best thing to do is, but not as easy as suggested. You're also making it sound as if I'm saying it's ok to be shitfaced, which I'm def not.

Anyways, my point is the level of punishment should not be taken this far for those who have never been involved in any type of drunk car accident.

I stand by my statements and can only add that you have been extremely lucky over the past ten years and are a bomb waiting to go off.
How many drunk driving accidents should be tolerated?
Good Luck (to your fellow travelers too),
BW

Showtime, I hope for my family's sake that you don't live in NYC.

Ahhhh, don't worry about me being around my dude. Worry about the bums on the streets that might rob your family or the taxis that could run your family over or worry about a terrorist attack. (God forbid)

Besides, if I lived in the city I wouldn't need a car. Stop making me such a big deal. If driving was taken a bit more seriously, they wouldn't make it as easy as 5 questions to pass for a driver's license.

A friend is a sheriff. Occasionally when we go out he'll bring a breathalyzer along for fun. Not sure if it is a current one or how it is calibrated, but when we use it, you would be surprised at how much you can drink before you are up to .08%. Once I hit the magic number, there was no question that I should not be driving. The scary thing is, more drinks and a higher percentage, I felt the same or less dunk.

Shredmo,
"you would be surprised at how much you can drink before you are up to .08%" interesting that you mention this as I went to a calculater website and shows that you need a good 7-8 drinks before becoming illegal to drive. I thought it was less than 4, which explains why I've passed a couple breathalizer tests and I never understood why.

Bob W...I guess I've been driving somewhat at the legal limit afterall ;)

Drunk drivers should lose their privilege to drive, period.