N.J. Senate to consider bill Thursday to revamp penalties for drunken driving
FEBRUARY 4, 2015, 7:02 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2015, 7:26 AM
BY DUSTIN RACIOPPI
STATE HO– USE BUREAU |
THE RECORD
Drunken drivers can lose their licenses for a year, serve jail time and pay insurance surcharges of $1,000 a year.
But now safety advocates – including Mothers Against Drunk Driving – are behind an effort to end the harsh penalties for first-time offenders.
Instead of fines, jail time and lengthy license suspensions, offenders would be required to install a device about the size of a cellphone that would measure their blood alcohol content before the car can be turned on.
If approved by the Senate today and signed by Governor Christie, a bill would add New Jersey to the growing list of states shifting from a punitive approach to a behavioral one to combat drunken driving.