WTF? breathalizers required on cars?

[graywolf624]

New Mexico is considering a law that would make all drivers exhale into an alcohol detection device in their cars before they could start the engine. The New Mexico House of Representatives on Monday passed a bill to require an ignition lock that will prevent a car from starting if the driver fails a breath test. The bill is being debated this week in the state's Senate. New Mexico has one of the highest rates of fatalities caused by driving under the influence in the United States and the bill would mandate the ignition lock to be installed in all cars sold or registered in the state by 2009. One of the devices available now costs about $1,000. It works by requiring a driver to blow into a tube that detects the presence of alcohol. If no alcohol is detected, then the car's ignition unlocks. "It's not just about prosecuting criminals but stopping drunk driving before it starts," said Ken Martinez, a Democratic representative who sponsored the bill. Critics of the bill called the cost of the device prohibitive, adding the measure would penalize people who do not drink and drive by forcing them to buy an expensive gadget. According to advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving, New Mexico ranked fifth among U.S. states in the percentage of traffic fatalities caused by drunk drivers. "People called seat belts and air bags inconvenient at first but it's just an issue of getting used to it. I think in the long run it will save money and lives," Martinez said.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmp...ife_alcohol_dc

Idiots. I can imagine the first time someone cant start there car to drive someone to the hospital things would get interesting. It's set to not start the car for anything over .03. I'd be suprised if nyquil didn't set it off. Not to mention 1000 dollars more on the resale of a used car.

[oscargarza88]

hhahahaaha
ive heard about this but just to special people that had been caught driving drunk but to all the cars?! thats too much
and if ur drunk y could just tell another person to blow for u.

[levensnevel]

So you ask someone who hasn't drank to exhale into that alcohol detection device...
Plan simply won't work

[altezza]

http://www.madd.ca/news/n030518.htm

I think this device should only be used in cars that are owned by repeated drink and drive offenders (just like this program in Ontario)
mandatory installation of this device on all cars is just plain stupid :roll:

[oscargarza88]

Originally Posted by levensnevel So you ask someone who hasn't drank to exhale into that alcohol detection device... Plan simply won't work

thats what i said, but i also heard that u have to breath in it every 10 mins or something like that, if not the car will turn off, so that will b a little more touble... but u can always take an oxygen tank with u

[altezza]

Originally Posted by oscargarza88 hhahahaaha if ur drunk y could just tell another person to blow for u.

this method won't work...
"To discourage participating motorists from using a sober person to start their cars, the Interlock system demands more breath samples at random intervals during car trips."

or if your friend isn't drunk... why don't just ask him to drive you home

[gigdy]

Originally Posted by altezza Originally Posted by oscargarza88 hhahahaaha if ur drunk y could just tell another person to blow for u. this method won't work... "To discourage participating motorists from using a sober person to start their cars, the Interlock system demands more breath samples at random intervals during car trips."

Thats how the system works now but even if the rediculous bill passes i dont think that would go with it.

[rift321]

so you're saying driving drunk is illegal?

[levensnevel]

Well,

suppose it's illegal on public roads :fadein:

[RC45]

Then people will die in head on collisions as the approaching driver tries to grab the "blow tube" - and in the ensuing chaos drifts into the oncoming lane... just about the most stupid f**king idea ever conceived...

[TT]

The image of ppl having to constantly giving head while driving to keep the car turned on is hilarious LMAO!!

Anyway since I never touch alchool, would be ok for me (the single blow when you enter the car maybe... )

[Gnome]

In Norway the same has been proposed for all busses, trams, subways and other passenger traffic. That seems reasonable, but installing these systems in all vehicles is a bit too much.

And the need to blow more than once does not improve traffic safety!

[T-Bird]

Originally Posted by graywolf624 Idiots. I can imagine the first time someone cant start there car to drive someone to the hospital things would get interesting. It's set to not start the car for anything over .03. I'd be suprised if nyquil didn't set it off. Not to mention 1000 dollars more on the resale of a used car.

It's been proven that Nyquil or anything like it won't set off breathelizers many times now.

[Garretts_turbo]

jeesh. i can only hope it doesnt make it to regular production cars....ugh....
we have a program like that where i live but only for people who are repeat offenders and such. seems to me that bringing a friend along with you is the easiest way to get around it, although i am in no way approving drunk driving! thats what caused the wreck that totaled my truck grrrrrr.....

[graywolf624]

It's been proven that Nyquil or anything like it won't set off breathelizers many times now.

Actually it will if you set the bar low enough for percent of body. (nyquil and mouthwash both contain alcohol). This is why often times if it isn't obvious they will also do a blood analysis (aka your really close to the line and seem completely sober).

.03 is close to that range.

Mouthwash does as well. I should know, my mother is a nurse and I have 4 cousins that are police men. (and people wonder why I make sure to stay out of trouble.

Furthermore, even more scary. A really small number of the population... something well below .01 percent.. have a body makeup that makes these read higher then 0.