Tougher DUI laws take effect in Arizona

Finally something to help combat the ever present problem of drunk drivers!

Motorists who insist on driving while drunk will find themselves facing a new penalty if they get arrested in Arizona from now on.

A new law that took effect 12:01 a.m. last Wednesday says those convicted of even a first offense will be able to drive only vehicles equipped with an ignition interlock device for the next year.

That's not the only change in statutes in store for those who break the law.

Judges are going to lose their discretion to reduce the jail time of those guilty of "extreme'' DUI. These are motorists whose blood-alcohol content (BAC) is at least .15, nearly twice the legal limit of .08.

And legislators agreed to create a whole new penalty for the most inebriated of motorists: Anyone with a BAC of at least .20 will spend at least 45 days in jail.

This year's changes are the latest in a series of efforts to cut down on alcohol-related accidents in Arizona.

But the key measure instead focuses on preventing repeat offenders.

The devices are wired into a vehicle's ignition. Motorists must provide a "clean" breath sample - below .04 BAC - to get the vehicle to start.

Arizona first started requiring interlocks in 1998. But the law has, until now, limited that mandate to the vehicles of repeat offenders as well as those who are convicted of "extreme DUI", a figure that means a BAC of at least .15.

Cydney DeModica, spokeswoman for the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division, said about 7,000 of these devices, which can be rented from six private firms for about $60 a month, are in use at any given time.

But until now, only New Mexico mandated these interlocks for even first-time offenders.

Two other laws deal with those whose level of intoxication is far beyond the legal limit.

State law requires those convicted of extreme DUI to serve at least 30 days in jail. But the law also has let a judge reduce that to 10 days if a person completes court-ordered treatment or screening programs. That option is now a thing of the past.

And legislators have also decided to crack down even harder on the most intoxicated motorists: Another new law spells out those who get behind the wheel with a BAC of at least .20 must serve at least 45 days in jail.

This is something that has been needed for so long now. You can now feel sfaer when driving the streets and highways of Arizona.