A new law that requires first-time drunk drivers to install an interlock device on their car could strain staff, a spokeswoman for the state Motor Vehicle Division said.
But Cydney DeModica said her agency is optimistic the law would ultimately result in a reduction of repeat offenders.
“So we may not see 17,000 this year,” she said, referring to the estimated number of drunk-drivers who could get the interlock under a new law.
An ignition interlock, an electronic device slightly larger than an older version of a mobile phone, has been touted as a practical solution to keep drunk drivers off the road. It is wired to the vehicle’s ignition system. A driver blows into it to measure the alcohol level in his or her blood. If the alcohol level is above a preset level, the engine will not start.
Even before the new law officially took effect Sept. 19, Arizona already required the interlock for people convicted of extreme drunk driving — that is, those with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or above, which is nearly twice the legal limit of 0.08 — and on repeat offenders.
The law now requires the interlock on first-time DUI offenders, regardless of the degree of their intoxication. Until recently, only the state of New Mexico had implemented a similar policy. Other states have also seen a push for tougher drunk-driving laws combined with an interlock requirement.
DeModica said the new law does not allocate money for additional personnel, who process and analyze data received from interlock companies. She explained that MVD automatically churns out certain notices to drivers, but there is still a “tremendous amount of processing that goes on behind the scene.”
“For every ignition interlock that is installed, there is a follow-up report.” That is where the personnel demands are, DeModica said.
“There were no positions funded and as with any other unfunded mandate, we will just move forward and implement the new law to the best of our ability. Of course it is going to strain resources,” DeModica said.
In fact, the division’s ignition interlock desk only has one full-time employee.
“So the person that we have working on this is certainly at max,” said DeModica.
She added: “The goal of the law, of course, is to reduce the number of first-time DUI offenses in the state… The MVD is optimistic that this law is going to be successful and that it will reduce the number of first-time DUI offenders so we may not see 17,000 this year.”