Starting July 1, the ignition interlock law will take effect in Connecticut, ABC-affiliate WTNH reports.
The ignition lock was originally required after a second offense, but the state is bearing down on those who drive under the influence. All drivers who operate a vehicle under the influence, including first offenders, will be ordered to install the ignition interlock onto their car. The mechanism requires the driver to blow a breath into a tube, which then reads the person's blood-alcohol level. If the person has a blood-alcohol percentage of .025 or higher, the car will not start, according to CBS affiliate WFSB.
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy signed the bill last June. The law was passed unanimously by state Legislature, according to the Stamford Advocate.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MAAD), will be hosting an event today to announce the new ignition interlock law.
"This law closes a loophole that allowed some offenders to avoid an ignition interlock," said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. "MADD's top legislative priority is to pass laws that require ignition interlocks for all offenders, because ignition interlocks save lives."
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that repeat offenses are reduced by 67 percent after the ignition lock law is initiated. The cost of the device may be a deterrent for driving drunk as well, costing up to $1,000.
See Now: OnePlus 6: How Different Will It Be From OnePlus 5?
