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The Issue: According to statewide data from alcoholalert.com, 41 percent of all fatalities in Kansas in 2008 were alcohol related. That represents a steady climb from 2004 figures. Lawmakers worked to toughen the state's laws in hopes of reducing the number of drunk drivers on the roads.
Background: In an attempted to reduce the number of repeat offenders, the Kansas legislature voted to toughen the state’s drunk driving laws. On May 25, Governor Sam Brownback signed Senate Bill 6, which partially revamps Kansas DUI laws. Now, first-time offenders will be required to use devices on their vehicles to prevent them from driving while intoxicated.
“The main reason to use ignition interlock devices is to saves lives by keeping drunk drivers off the roads, but they also provide another important benefit,” said Pete Bodyk, manager of KDOT’s Traffic Safety section. “The offender knows that without the ignition interlock system, they will not be able to drive. Since they are able to drive, they can continue to support their families by driving children to school, driving themselves to work and running necessary errands.”
Going Forward: Starting today, July 1, the state’s new DUI laws will include
•Failure of a breath test with a result between .08 and .15, on the first occurrence, is a 30-day suspension followed by six months of ignition interlock device if your record is clear and 12 months of interlock if you have a prior open container violation or three or more moving violations.
•Failure of a breath test with a result over .15 the first time, or over .08 on a second or subsequent occurrence is a one-year suspension followed by ignition interlock (length of interlock is dependent on priors).
•Refusal of a breath, blood or urine test is a one-year suspension, followed by ignition interlock requirement (length of interlock is dependent on priors), regardless of how many prior Kansas DUI occurrences a person has.
The new law also creates a central repository that will give law enforcement, prosecutors and judges access to drivers' records, making it easier to track repeat offenders. The Kansas Department of Transportation will fund the repository with $2.5 million and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation will oversee it.
The Issue: According to statewide data from alcoholalert.com, 41 percent of all fatalities in Kansas in 2008 were alcohol related. That represents a steady climb from 2004 figures. Lawmakers worked to toughen the state's laws in hopes of reducing the number of drunk drivers on the roads.
Background: In an attempted to reduce the number of repeat offenders, the Kansas legislature voted to toughen the state’s drunk driving laws. On May 25, Governor Sam Brownback signed Senate Bill 6, which partially revamps Kansas DUI laws. Now, first-time offenders will be required to use devices on their vehicles to prevent them from driving while intoxicated.
“The main reason to use ignition interlock devices is to saves lives by keeping drunk drivers off the roads, but they also provide another important benefit,” said Pete Bodyk, manager of KDOT’s Traffic Safety section. “The offender knows that without the ignition interlock system, they will not be able to drive. Since they are able to drive, they can continue to support their families by driving children to school, driving themselves to work and running necessary errands.”
Going Forward: Starting today, July 1, the state’s new DUI laws will include
•Failure of a breath test with a result between .08 and .15, on the first occurrence, is a 30-day suspension followed by six months of ignition interlock device if your record is clear and 12 months of interlock if you have a prior open container violation or three or more moving violations.
•Failure of a breath test with a result over .15 the first time, or over .08 on a second or subsequent occurrence is a one-year suspension followed by ignition interlock (length of interlock is dependent on priors).
•Refusal of a breath, blood or urine test is a one-year suspension, followed by ignition interlock requirement (length of interlock is dependent on priors), regardless of how many prior Kansas DUI occurrences a person has.
The new law also creates a central repository that will give law enforcement, prosecutors and judges access to drivers' records, making it easier to track repeat offenders. The Kansas Department of Transportation will fund the repository with $2.5 million and the Kansas Bureau of Investigation will oversee it.
