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Leandra's Law faces local reality
Dec 29, 2010 4:42 pm
[caption id="" align="alignright" width="185" caption="An Ignition Interlock Device"]
[/caption]How successful is Leandra's Law, the new statewide measure that went into effect this past August as a means of protecting kids under the age of 16 from being driven by anyone under the influence? The original idea was simple: Impose harsh penalties on first-time offenders who drive drunk with children in their vehicle, with up to four years in prison and a mandatory court order to have an ignition interlock system installed on any vehicle owned or operated by the driver for at least six months, requiring that driver to blow into an alcohol sensor before the engine can be turned on. But according to a story in the Daily Mail by Colin DeVries, it turns out that the devices aren’t being installed. And out of six such cases in Greene County, none have resulted in the proper use of the interlocks, which were also meant to buffer county coffers. “What we’ve found — and what seems to be the trend across the state — is people are disposing of their cars,” said Greene County Probation Department Director Alan Frisbee in DeVries' story. The revenue forecast changed, it goes on, after manufacturers were ordered to cover the fees for offenders who couldn’t afford it. Then potential revenues took another hit when offenders were simply claiming no ownership of vehicles. Offenders would transfer ownership of their cars before conviction to prevent installation of the interlock devices. They were circumventing the fee structure and the alcohol sensor. For the full story see The Daily Mail.
[/caption]How successful is Leandra's Law, the new statewide measure that went into effect this past August as a means of protecting kids under the age of 16 from being driven by anyone under the influence? The original idea was simple: Impose harsh penalties on first-time offenders who drive drunk with children in their vehicle, with up to four years in prison and a mandatory court order to have an ignition interlock system installed on any vehicle owned or operated by the driver for at least six months, requiring that driver to blow into an alcohol sensor before the engine can be turned on. But according to a story in the Daily Mail by Colin DeVries, it turns out that the devices aren’t being installed. And out of six such cases in Greene County, none have resulted in the proper use of the interlocks, which were also meant to buffer county coffers. “What we’ve found — and what seems to be the trend across the state — is people are disposing of their cars,” said Greene County Probation Department Director Alan Frisbee in DeVries' story. The revenue forecast changed, it goes on, after manufacturers were ordered to cover the fees for offenders who couldn’t afford it. Then potential revenues took another hit when offenders were simply claiming no ownership of vehicles. Offenders would transfer ownership of their cars before conviction to prevent installation of the interlock devices. They were circumventing the fee structure and the alcohol sensor. For the full story see The Daily Mail.