North Carolina legislators will be voting on a new bill that supporters hope will make it much more difficult for convicted drunk drivers to drive again. The bill is referred to as “Gray’s law,” and if it becomes law, those convicted of their first drunk driving offense will be required to install an ignition interlock device on their vehicles.
Right now, an IID is only required for those who refused to take a chemical test to determine their blood alcohol content, those whose BAC was more than .15 and those already convicted of drunk driving in the past.
One member of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, who lost her 18-year-old son to a drunk driving accident in 2004, said, “It’s time we take the interest out of groups and talk about feelings, feelings of people impacted by this.”
Currently there are 24 states that have laws with similar requirements. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Josh Stein. He said that the implementation of requiring IIDs on first time offenders could result in a 45 percent drop in drunk driving fatalities. In addition, he said, “It will allow convicted drunk drivers to stay working. I don’t know why anyone would be opposed to this.”
If you are facing charges for drunk driving, you will want to speak with an attorney soon. He or she can begin to investigate your case and determine if your rights were violated in any way. He or she will also see if the prosecution is willing to offer a plea deal. As the case moves forward, you’ll will quickly appreciate the experience and knowledge your attorney has.first
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