Bill Could Require Drunks to Put Breathalizers in Cars

Convicted drunk drivers in four California counties, likely including Los Angeles, could be required to install breathalizer devices in their automobiles under legislation approved by the Senate on Wednesday.

The bill to establish the experimental project passed 22 to 0 and returned to the Assembly for a final vote.

“This bill seeks to adopt a new strategy to use in the war against drunk drivers,” said Sen. Dan McCorquodale (D-San Jose), Senate manager of the measure by Assemblyman Sam Farr (D-Carmel).

Judicial Discretion

Under the legislation, judges in participating counties--expected to include Los Angeles, Sacramento, Alameda and Monterey--would have the discretion to require those convicted of driving under the influence to install the devices in their vehicles.

Farr said the state-of-the-art devices would look like small tape-recorder microphones. A driver would have to blow into it and if no alcohol was detected on his breath, a green light would go on and the car would start.

But if the device detected alcohol, a red light would go on and the car ignition would automatically lock.

Past efforts at developing such devices have failed. But Farr said new technology led to development of devices that could not be fooled by hair dryers, balloons or portable vacuum cleaners that might be used to blow fresh air into the device.

Can’t Be Fooled

“You can’t fool the machine. It can’t be activated by anything other than human breath,” Farr said. The legislation also would make it a misdemeanor for anyone other than the convicted drunk driver to blow into the breathalizer.

Farr said the legislation was sought primarily by judges who wanted an alternative to pulling the driver’s license of those who claimed they needed their cars for work. Judges in Los Angeles County have been among the most enthusiastic supporters of the bill.

Farr predicted broader applications if the experiment succeeds. He said the ignition lock devices can be installed in fleet cars, rental vehicles, or anyplace else where people are concerned that drinking drivers are operating their vehicles.