Jefferson City, MO
A new law affecting drivers with a history of multiple drunk driving offenses is about to take effect.State officials are noting just because the law was not a requirement last time an offender went to court, does not mean they are exempt now.
When lawmakers approved the law a year ago, Missouri had more than 118,000 multiple DWI offenders on the road.
“There’s 43,000 with three or more DWI convictions, and 7,400 with five or more,” said former lawmaker Neal St. Onge.
Determined to change that, the legislature mandated the use of interlock devices for people with multiple drunk driving convictions.
“That’s the device that you put in your car that doesn’t allow the car to start until a person breathes into and it shows that they don’t have any alcohol in their system,” said Revenue Department Spokesman Ten Farnen.
Within the next week, some 38,000 offenders will receive letters from the department of revenue advising them that they must comply with the interlock law unless unrestricted driving privileges are restored before July 1.
“There’s a re-instatement fee,” said Farnen. “They have to take an alcohol education class. Or they have to go the insurance company and have them file an SR-22, which is basically proof that you have insurance.”
Farnen says it is the individual driver’s responsibility to comply with the law-to have the interlock device installed. That could mean a conversation with an attorney and a visit to the MoDOT website, where you will find a list of approved interlock devices.