Annie’s law still stuck

What is Annie’s Law

House Bill 469 or as its commonly referred to Annie’s Law came to be because Annie Rooney, the daughter of Dr. Rick Rooney and Carole Rooney, was killed by a drunk driver in Chillicothe, Ohio on July 4th, 2013.

Annie’s Law would make it so first time drunk driving offenders have to use an ignition interlock device in their vehicles for six months. An ignition interlock device requires a person to exhale into a machine where it then tests the breath for alcohol content. If the content is above the devices programmed limit, the vehicle wont be allowed to start.

The Rooney family are constituents of Representative Gary Scherer, the 92nd house district. The Rooney’s are also friends Rep. Terry Johnson. So together with Rep Johnson, Rep. Scherer worked to introduce a bill to prevent such tragedies like this one.

[pullquote]“The Rooney family are friends of Rep. Johnson and Rep. Scherer so it was highly important to do this for their loved one’s memory and to keep drunk drivers from entering our roadways as much as possible.”—Brad Morton, Legislative Aide for the office of Representative Scherer[/pullquote]

  Representative Gary Scherer 

Why is Annie’s Law Held up?

Annie’s law has run into some trouble becoming an actual law though. One of the biggest issues with the bill was judicial discretion. House Bill 469 sought to make ignition interlock devices mandatory for first time offenders. The Ohio Judicial conference opposed this bill saying that it would take away judges judicial discretion.

The bill is very comprehensive and covered several issues within the OVI laws. The issue is getting all the legislators to compromise. In response to this Rep. Scherer said  “The bill had a great goal but it was difficult to get everyone to compromise and have time to get it all done before the end of last GA.[General Assembly]”

“We are currently working on the bill again this time around and hopefully we can work out the kinks to get everyone on board.”— Brad Morton, Legislative Aide for the office of Representative Scherer

What are ignition interlock devices?

An Ignition interlock device (IID) is the equivalent of a breathalyzer device in your car. When an IID is installed into a vehicle the driver is required to breathe into the machine to test the breath for alcohol before the vehicle will be permitted to start. If the users breath is more than the programmed limit of the device will prohibit the vehicle from starting.

Some of the devices require random tests while the vehicle is in operation. If the operator breaths into the machine and fails the test the device wont turn off the engine, but it will signal the driver to stop the vehicle.

Success of Ignition Interlock Devices 

According to a study done by the Center for Disease Control States like Oregon, Arizona, and New Mexico have seen a 30% drop in drunk driving deaths after all-offender interlock laws were passed.

Ignition interlock devices reduce repeat offenses of driving while intoxicated (DWI) by about 70% in vehicles in which they are installed.

All 50 states have some sort of ignition interlock law. And of the 50 states 23 have mandatory ignition interlock provisions on all offenses.