Northern Kentucky Representative Dennis Keene has been working for six years to help pass an ignition interlock bill and now passage appears closer than ever. The modified bill needs to see action Tuesday, if it's to clear during this session. Keene almost lost his daughter to a drunk driver. "It's not everything that we wanted in the House, but it's definitely gonna save lives and that's what's important,” said Keene. “It doesn't matter who's name's on it. It just matters that it accomplishes and saves families anguish of losing their children."
The breathalyzer like device is placed inside the vehicles of people convicted of DUI, and must be blown into before the car will start.
The House Judiciary Committee on Monday approved the Senate's version of the bill. Louisville Senator Morgan McGarvey says judges would have flexibility in setting payments for indigent offenders. "The court will set an amount at which each defendant who's convicted of a DUI pays for the device," said McGarvey.
Under the Senate approved bill, the breathalyzer type device would come into play for those convicted on a second offense or first time offenders with aggravating circumstances. That would include drunken driving with a child in the vehicle or 30 miles over the speed limit.?
