Victoria to enforce alcohol interlocks for all drink drivers: report

The Herald Sun reports the Victorian State Government has begun drafting new legislation that would require all drivers caught over the legal blood-alcohol limit to have interlock devices fitted to their car to deter them from reoffending.

Under the current rules, only drivers who record a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of 0.15 or above, drivers aged below 26 with a BAC of 0.07 or above, and repeat offenders are required to fit interlocks to their cars for between six months and four years.

The new proposal would reportedly demand interlocks be fitted to the vehicles of all drivers who exceed the BAC limit, which is 0.05 for fully licenced drivers and zero for learner and probationary drivers.

Alcohol interlock devices require motorists to register a legal BAC before being able to start their car. The Herald Sun reports its costs offenders more than $1000 to use an interlock for six months and about $6500 for four years.

The current laws see about 6500 drivers every year required to fit an interlock to their car, but Victoria Police minister Peter Ryan expects that number to grow by more than 10,000 under the strict new system.

Drink driving accounts for more than a quarter of the deaths and more than 10 per cent of serious injuries on Victoria’s roads. Currently almost one in three drink drivers are caught reoffending.