NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. – A law proposed by a first-time lawmaker from Neptune Beach is designed to make sure first-time offenders don't go on to become repeat offenders.
House Bill 949, introduced by state Rep. Cord Byrd would require ignition interlock devices for anyone convicted of drunk driving in Florida. Currently, that's only the law for people who have multiple DUI convictions or a first-time offender who had a blood-alcohol level of 0.15 -- nearly twice the local level.
In the upper chamber, Sen. David Simmons plans to amend Senate Bill 918, to also require ignition interlocks for all drunk drivers, according to Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
For those not familiar with the devices, they are basically breathalyzers installed in vehicles. A driver would have to blow into the device to prove he or she was sober to make their car operate.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 797 people died in drunk driving crashes in Florida in 2015 — 103 more than in 2014. Florida had the largest increase in traffic fatalities caused by drunk driving from 2014 to 2015, according to MADD, which is strongly behind the efforts of Byrd and Simmons.
“We look forward to making Florida the 29th state with this lifesaving law," said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church said in a release. “This is our No.1 priority in the 22 states that do not have an all-offender ignition interlock law. And we are working hard to make sure states that do have these laws keep them in place or even strengthen them to make them even more effective.”
Jacksonville drivers had mixed reviews of the proposed law.
"I think you'll save a lot of lives," Towana Smith said.
"I think it's good to scare or deter first-time offenders," Nichole Bryant said. "But this might not be the best way."
"Initially you have to use it to start your car. And it's not just a little puff of air. You have to blow very, very hard, which can distract you from driving," said Sean Bryant. "Then later on in the trip you have to do it again.”