Governor Butch Otter Signs First New Major DUI Reform in 11 Years Into Law

It's the first major new DUI reform signed into law in Idaho since 1997, and it will officially take effect January 1st, 2019.

Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed a drunk driving reform bill on this week that will require all first-time convicted drunk driving offenders to have an ignition interlock installed on their vehicle for one year. The new law supported by Mothers Against Drunk Driving makes Idaho the 31^st state with an ignition interlock law for all drunk driving offenders.

The new law requires that the interlocks will be equipped with cameras to make sure the driver’s breath is being tested. Rolling retests of the driver’s breath will also be required.

The in-car devices prevent a vehicle from starting if alcohol is detected on the driver’s breath. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all-offender interlock laws reduce drunk driving recidivism by 67 percent, which is why MADD is pushing for all-offender ignition interlock laws in all 50 states.

The new law takes effect Jan. 1, 2019. For more information on ignition interlocks, visit madd.org/interlock.