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Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Ind. Courts - "Tippecanoe County superior court judge Michael Morrissey is one of the few Indiana judges who uses ignition interlocks"

Bob Segal of Indianapolis Eyewitness News 13 reports:

Indiana is not doing what many other states have done to reduce their alcohol-related fatalities and crashes. Dozens of states now require convicted drunk drivers to install ignition interlock devices in their vehicles, and in some of those states, the results have been dramatic.

Ignition interlock devices are wired into a vehicle's ignition, and they require drivers to blow into the device to prove sobriety before their vehicles will start. If the ignition interlock detects any alcohol on a driver's breath, the vehicle is disabled.

Tippecanoe County superior court judge Michael Morrissey is one of the few Indiana judges who uses ignition interlocks. He's ordered them for hundreds of drunk drivers since 2005, and he says in more than 99% of those cases, the offenders did not drive drunk again.

"I like our numbers," Morrissey said. "If you're decreasing re-offense rates, you're protecting the public." * * *

Indiana law allows judges to order the installation an ignition interlock, but they are not mandated to do so. Judges in other states do not have a choice. Six states have legislation that requires ignition interlock devices for every case of drunk driving. Twenty other states mandate ignition interlock for some alcohol-related driving offenses.

The very long report includes a number of links for more information.

Posted by Marcia Oddi on May 14, 2008 11:56 AM
Posted to Indiana Courts