New California DUI Law Effective in Los Angeles

As of July 1, 2010, some offenders convicted for driving under the influence (DUI) in California will be required to install ignition-interlock devices (IIDs) in their vehicles in Los Angeles. While several states, including California, require IIDs for repeat drunk driving offenders, the stakes are even higher for first-time offenders who may now be required to install one of these devices in their vehicle.

Ignition-interlock devices test a driver’s breath through a small handheld alcohol device that is connected to the dashboard. If an individual’s breath test displays a blood alcohol level higher than the pre-set level (typically around .02% and .04%), then the vehicle’s engine will not start. To make sure that a driver is not DUI and does not have their friend take the test for them, some IIDs have a rolling retest which requires the driver to breathe into it again while driving.

According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the new IID law will undergo an experimental phase of five years in which lawmakers can decide whether to expand the program beyond the counties of Los Angeles, Alameda, Sacramento, and Tulare.

The new breathalyzer law adds to already existing harsh penalties and costs for DUI. The installation and maintenance of an IID costs approximately $60 a month. Adding this new penalty to California law makes a wrongful DUI conviction all the more serious.

Contact the Orange County and Los Angeles DUI attorneys at Sitkoff & Hanrahan if you are facing drunk driving charges. Our aggressive and skilled lawyers are highly familiar with the complex laws surrounding DUI, including the accuracy of devices that are supposed to determine blood alcohol levels. Call Sitkoff & Hanrahan at 866-430-8383 for a free and confidential consultation.

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