SPRINGFIELD – Today, Representative Barbara Wheeler (R-Crystal Lake) passed legislation with the full support of the Illinois House of Representatives to place harsher restrictions on repeat DUI offenders. The legislation, House Bill 3533, requires that repeat DUI offenders must have their vehicles equipped with Breath Alcohol Ignition Interlock Devices, better known as BAIID devices, for longer periods and also requires offenders to be disallowed from reapplying for a license with the Secretary of State’s office until first completing a period with a restricted driving permit.
“Everyone makes mistakes in life, but when a person places themselves and others at risk by repeatedly driving under the influence, we need to make every effort to keep them from doing so again,” said Wheeler. “While fatalities from alcohol related accidents have gone down greatly since the 1980s, the number has started to rise again over the past few years and clearly new steps are needed to keep our roads safe.”
Under HB 3533, the Illinois Vehicle Code has been amended so that anyone caught driving under the influence of alcohol, drugs, intoxicating compounds, or any combination of these on multiple occasions will be subject to the installation of BAIID devices on all their vehicles for no less than five years. BAIID devices are breathalyzer devices that are connected to a vehicles ignition, if there is any presence of alcohol on the breath of the driver, the vehicle will not be able to start.
In addition to the extended duration of the BAIID devices in their vehicles, repeat offenders will not be eligible to apply for a license again until completing a five year period under a restricted driving permit. During this period, should the person issued a restricted permit have it suspended, cancelled, revoked, or break the regulations of their BAIID device, they will be further inhibit from acquiring a license.
“This legislation is a matter of public safety to keep our families safe,” said Wheeler. “I look forward to it quickly being passed by the Senate and signed into law by the Governor.”