Drunk-Driving Arrests Increase

Reading your editorial (“Must You Have More Than One?” Dec. 5) on the state’s strict drunk-driving laws, it becomes apparent just how much Californians rely on our law-enforcement agencies to contain social problems rather than common sense solutions.

The editorial also illustrated the failure of this approach. With more than 100,000 California drivers having their licenses seized in only five months, no intelligent person can say deterrence works.

Furthermore, calls for abstinence generally fall on deaf ears.

A common-sense rather than a law-enforcement approach of attaching Breathalyzers to ignition switches in all vehicles would end most drunk-driving accidents. A reading of .08 and the vehicle would not start.

The cost for installing these devices would be offset by reduced insurance premiums for all drivers as insurance companies would pay out fewer claims. Finally, our tax dollars normally spent enforcing and implementing California’s stringent laws could instead pay for needed education programs.

MICHAEL CORWIN, Santa Monica