One day in the not-so-distant future all vehicles may come with ignition interlock devices or other alcohol detection machines installed as standard equipment. This recent article from MSNBC points out that more and more states are making the devices mandatory for first-time DUI offenders, and that some are pushing for this technology to be standard issue on all cars manufactured and sold in the United States. From the article:
“The spread of mandates and discussion of ignition interlocks will “prime the public” for the day when the government requires auto manufacturers to install even more-sophisticated alcohol-detection devices as original equipment, Longwell said.”
On July 1, 2011, Kansas joined those states that make an ignition interlock device mandatory for any first-time Kansas DUI. Right now, first time DUI suspects that blow between .08 and .15 face a 30 day administrative suspension followed by 6 months of ignition interlock device (if their driving record is clear, otherwise it is 12 months ignition interlock device).