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WV: Harsher Penalties for High Blood Alcohol Content
February 14, 2008

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News Summary

First-time drunk-driving offenders in West Virginia found to have a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .15 percent or higher would be required to install ignition-interlock devices in their cars under a bill approved this week by the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

The devices prevent a car from starting if the driver has any alcohol in their system.

The Charleston Gazette reported Feb. 14 that the legislation has the support of the state chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD). The bill would require drivers with high BAC levels to spend 24 hours in jail and face incarceration for up to six months. On the other hand, the legislation would eliminate mandatory jail time for offenders with a BAC of between .08 percent and .15 percent.

West Virginia MADD director Donna Hawkins said a similar approach taken in New Mexico led to a 12-percent decline in drunk-driving deaths and a 26-percent decline in drunk-driving crashes.

COMMENTS ON THIS ARTICLE:

Posted by Dan Wilemon on 19 Feb 08 10:15 AM EST
Its about time we got serious about this issue. We've become way too tolerant of alcohol abuse in our society - and its consequences.

Posted by Ray O'Donnell on 19 Feb 08 08:33 PM EST
BAC levels above .15 are more likely to be individuals who have some type of tolerance, (genetic, habituation, etc.), and much more likely to have a DSM-IV-TR abuse or dependence diagnosis. In other words the people who are sick are likely to be the folks getting the stiffest penalty. They are most likely to be in need of treatment. I might suggest that we treat people for 6 months rather that put them in a cage. I bet it's cheaper for taxpayers in the long run and will have less resentment and result in a lower recidivism rate. You might say that jail programming is available. Frequently it is offered as a bargaining chip for a reduced sentence and facilitated by good-intentioned but pooly trained and under paid people.

Posted by justme on 21 Feb 08 03:17 PM EST
Having recently been convicted of a DUI, I think the 24 hours in jail is a good time to consider what your choices have lead to for consequences, but do not see how keeping these folks in jail for 6 months when our jails are already so crowded is helpful. Dan is right - treatment is what is needed and so sorely lacking. I do think the interlock devices are helpful...I had one and it helped me both to be conscious of the amount of alcohol I was consuming and to recognize the signs of having had too much to drive. This has carried over now that I no longer have the interlock, so I think it was a useful learning tool.

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