LANSING, Mich. — Sen. Ruth Johnson, R-Holly, on Tuesday issued the following statement after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed her legislation expanding the use of ignition interlock devices to help keep Michigan roads safe while giving individuals convicted of driving under the influence a legal pathway to restore their driving privileges:
“I am happy to see the governor sign these bills to allow more people to restore their driving privileges while maintaining critical protections that save lives.
“Since ignition interlock devices have proven to reduce drunk driving crashes and deaths, it is just common sense for the state to enable all our specialty courts to use them to assist more people with rehabilitating their lives.
“This builds on my efforts as secretary of state to strengthen safeguards and to prevent cheating. Ignition interlock devices in Michigan must now record an image of the person breathing into the device and require random retests while driving.”
Senate Bills 134 and 135 would create the Specialty Court Interlock Program and expand the current requirements for the DWI/Sobriety Court Interlock Program to all specialty courts. The expanded program will allow eligible participants to have a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device in order to obtain a restricted driver license. An ignition interlock device measures a driver’s alcohol concentration before the vehicle can be started.
###