Baton Rouge Senator Rick Edmonds’ new DWI law, approved during the crime special session went into effect on Monday. The law reforms Louisiana’s approach to driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenses. An ignition interlock device will be required for six months and upon first conviction, if the offender had a blood alcohol concentration of 0.15 percent or greater, the person’s driver’s license shall be suspended for two years.
“The law lowers the blood alcohol content from 0.20 to 0.15, which aligns Louisiana with most other states,” Edmonds said. “We’re now in line with about 35 states I think. We were sort of an outlier.”
The law aims to reduce the state’s high rate of repeat DWI offenders.
Key requirements include the immediate reinstatement of driving privileges for DWI offenders who install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles, eliminating the previous 30-45 day waiting period.
“And it further requires the ignition interlock device to remain on the vehicle for six month from the date of the restricted drivers license.”
The legislation has garnered broad support from various organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Edmonds says the changes are expected to reduce the number of alcohol-related traffic fatalities in Louisiana
“If you are going to the club or party or whatever it is…get an Uber, get somebody to take you home.”
In 2021, the Louisiana Driving Commission reported that 40% of vehicle crashes were alcohol-related.
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