They should put breathalizers on all cars. Then to start the vehicle you have to breath in it. When below the legal limit, the car starts. Above the legal limit, the police are notified and you go to jail.
The police are called and you go to jail??? You haven’t commited any crime at that point. It sounds like you’d just like to apply the death penalty to all drunk drivers. Jeesh. Haven’t you ever made a dumb mistake before?
Isn’t the purpose of having a breathalizer put in a car is so that the car can’t be started if the person is over the limit? And…buzzed driving IS drunk driving…so even if someone were to come in under the limit, it doesn’t mean they are in any shape to drive…
It sounds good in theory but I think there would be a lot of unresolved issues if they were installed standard on all vehicles:
How to ensure they are periodically calibrated?
How to ensure they are not bypassed by the vehicle owner?
What happens when the ignition lock says you are ok to drive and the police breathalyzer says you are over the limit?
It would be nice if certain bars and restaurants had a breathalyzer device the same as that used by local cops, and charge a buck or two for an anonymous reading. Make it easier for people who are trying to be responsible while still having a good time.
“What happens when the ignition lock says you are ok to drive and the police breathalyzer says you are over the limit?”
That could get complicated. Wouldn’t we run into liability issues if the lock let you drive when you really shouldn’t? As Trump said above, just because you’re under the limit don’t assume you’re okay to drive.
I have heard of some bars having them, but haven’t seen one. Not sure how successful a voluntary test would be, since you tend to lose your judgement after a few.
I’ve heard of the ones in bars also but have never seen one. My concern would be not using the same methodology as the ones used by police departments (there are several breathalyzer companies, if I’m not mistaken).
As far as judgement, that’s exactly my point! It’s easy to think “I’m good to drive” when you’ve had a few, but when you’re staring at a hard number that says “no, you’re not”, it makes the choice very simple: “if I get in the car right now and get stopped, I will definitely fail the breathalyzer test and automatically get a DUI”. This is a much easier test than “if I get in the car right now and get stopped, I may or may not fail the breathalyzer test and may or may not get a DUI”.
I’m all about making informed choices. The MADD types will insist that you shouldn’t drink at all if you plan to drive. But that’s like saying that if you want to avoid getting pregnant, bring your parents along on every date. Overkill IMO.
There used to be a service here in Des Moines, not sure if it still exists or not. But, you would call them, someone would ride a bike to where you are at, collapse the bike and place it in your vehicle, and drive you and the vehicle back to your house. Then, off he/she goes on the bike again. You had to pay for it, of course, but another pretty good idea.
They should put breathalizers on all cars. Then to start the vehicle you have to breath in it. When below the legal limit, the car starts. Above the legal limit, the police are notified and you go to jail.
Hey why stop there, let’s put one at every public and private doorway, that way we can avoid the drunks altogether!
The police are called and you go to jail??? You haven’t commited any crime at that point. It sounds like you’d just like to apply the death penalty to all drunk drivers. Jeesh. Haven’t you ever made a dumb mistake before?
Maybe not go to jail, but the car not starting at all when someone is above the legal limit wouldn’t be such a bad thing.
That’s a very good idea.
Isn’t the purpose of having a breathalizer put in a car is so that the car can’t be started if the person is over the limit? And…buzzed driving IS drunk driving…so even if someone were to come in under the limit, it doesn’t mean they are in any shape to drive…
It sounds good in theory but I think there would be a lot of unresolved issues if they were installed standard on all vehicles:
How to ensure they are periodically calibrated?
How to ensure they are not bypassed by the vehicle owner?
What happens when the ignition lock says you are ok to drive and the police breathalyzer says you are over the limit?
It would be nice if certain bars and restaurants had a breathalyzer device the same as that used by local cops, and charge a buck or two for an anonymous reading. Make it easier for people who are trying to be responsible while still having a good time.
“What happens when the ignition lock says you are ok to drive and the police breathalyzer says you are over the limit?”
That could get complicated. Wouldn’t we run into liability issues if the lock let you drive when you really shouldn’t? As Trump said above, just because you’re under the limit don’t assume you’re okay to drive.
I have heard of some bars having them, but haven’t seen one. Not sure how successful a voluntary test would be, since you tend to lose your judgement after a few.
I’ve heard of the ones in bars also but have never seen one. My concern would be not using the same methodology as the ones used by police departments (there are several breathalyzer companies, if I’m not mistaken).
As far as judgement, that’s exactly my point! It’s easy to think “I’m good to drive” when you’ve had a few, but when you’re staring at a hard number that says “no, you’re not”, it makes the choice very simple: “if I get in the car right now and get stopped, I will definitely fail the breathalyzer test and automatically get a DUI”. This is a much easier test than “if I get in the car right now and get stopped, I may or may not fail the breathalyzer test and may or may not get a DUI”.
I’m all about making informed choices. The MADD types will insist that you shouldn’t drink at all if you plan to drive. But that’s like saying that if you want to avoid getting pregnant, bring your parents along on every date. Overkill IMO.
Yes, I agree.
Best solution is to simply not drive at all if you intend to drink.
Spoken like a true city slicker.
There used to be a service here in Des Moines, not sure if it still exists or not. But, you would call them, someone would ride a bike to where you are at, collapse the bike and place it in your vehicle, and drive you and the vehicle back to your house. Then, off he/she goes on the bike again. You had to pay for it, of course, but another pretty good idea.