Possible New Drunk Driving Laws for Texas
By: Lisa Carr
Updated: February 10, 2009
Sobriety check-points could soon be allowed in Texas. Local volunteers with Mothers Against Drunk Driving were in Austin on Tuesday asking legislators to support two new bills to make Texas roadways safer.
The first bill, will allow law enforcement across the state to set up check-points looking for drunk drivers, and House Bill 1110 will expand the "Ignition Interlock Program" used to punish repeat offenders. The new bill would make the Breathalyzer device mandatory in vehicles after the first DWI conviction, instead of after the third or fourth like it is now. "Texas is one of eleven states that does not have sobriety checkpoints. Sobriety checkpoints takes them off the streets if they're drunk, then if they get a DWI, that interlock device will keep them from drinking and driving again," says Dawn Owens with the local MADD Chapter.
Officials say repeat DWI offenders make up about one-third of the ongoing drunk driving problem in Texas. Texas lawmakers are expected to consider both bills this legislative session.
The first bill, will allow law enforcement across the state to set up check-points looking for drunk drivers, and House Bill 1110 will expand the "Ignition Interlock Program" used to punish repeat offenders. The new bill would make the Breathalyzer device mandatory in vehicles after the first DWI conviction, instead of after the third or fourth like it is now. "Texas is one of eleven states that does not have sobriety checkpoints. Sobriety checkpoints takes them off the streets if they're drunk, then if they get a DWI, that interlock device will keep them from drinking and driving again," says Dawn Owens with the local MADD Chapter.
Officials say repeat DWI offenders make up about one-third of the ongoing drunk driving problem in Texas. Texas lawmakers are expected to consider both bills this legislative session.
