Learn More about House Bill 971

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) May 11, 2010 -- Tension mounts across the country as House Bill 971 hangs in the air. This Florida legislation has relatives and friends of DUI victims on the edges of their seats as they ponder the far-reaching effects of this bill. In Florida, current law demands the revocation of the driver’s license for a driver with four convictions of driving under the influence of alcohol. If this new legislation is passed, however, four-time offenders will be able to renew their licenses.

Florida residents are particularly concerned. The bill will put a potential some 30,000 four-time DUI offenders back on the streets. The ripple effect will also start in Florida, some say, and they worry that this legislation will spread across the country. They are particularly concerned that DUI-related deaths will increase from a third of the total traffic accident deaths, already an unacceptable level, they comment. Many feel responsible that the passing of such a bill into law will create precedent for similar bills to be drawn up in other states and that this will result in an increase in alcohol-related accidents as the punishment acts as less and less of a deterrent to drunk driving. They say that as the law becomes more lenient to DUI offenders, the law loses its power of fear over these drivers. The latest 2009 statistics, showing 11,773 alcohol-impaired driving fatalities or 32% of all traffic accident deaths, came as a surprise to some. It served, however, to heighten the move for more active protests against the said bill.

In light of statistics that show that nearly 70% of DUI arrests involve drivers with a blood alcohol content of over 0.15 grams per deciliter, protests have intensified. Studies have shown that so-called “hard core” drunk drivers, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration research, are the most common repeat offenders due to their strong resistance to a change in behavior. This persists, NHTSA research shows, despite previous sanctions, treatment and education. Florida’s 30,000 repeat offenders fall under this category, and this has residents in a state of apprehension regarding the possibilities of increased DUI-related injuries and fatalities if House Bill 971 is passed. The bill mandates Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices and educational classes, but statistics show that the classes are ineffective for this 70% bracket. Furthermore, several reports indicate that the ignition-lock devices often malfunction. Several substances including enriched white bread, pizza crust, sourdough bread and even mouthwash can set them off. Some lawyers who have handled recent DUI cases admit that drivers prefer to risk driving without having the devices installed because it is less of a hassle than putting up with the defects. In Florida, only about 10,000 out of 30,000 offenders who have been mandated to have the devices installed have actually done so.

House Bill 971