Ignition Lock Bill Sees Action In Frankfort

In Frankfort, the legislative pace is picking up, as bills begin moving through committees of the Kentucky General Assembly. One bill seeing action targets drunken drivers.In 2009, 203 people were killed in alcohol-related crashes in Kentucky. Nearly eight thousand Kentuckians have three or more DUI convictions.Representative Dennis Keene believes the state needs to do more to get drunken drivers off the highways. That’s why he sponsoring legislation requiring ignition interlock devices for all convicted drunk drivers. The devices prevent vehicles from being cranked by drivers who are over the blood-alcohol limit.“Some people balk at the cost of this legislation. But while it varies from state to state, the cost is about $3 per day and the government does not bear this expense. The convicted offender pays for the device," he says.Similar legislation offered by Rep. Keene last year unanimously passed the House, but died in the Senate. This year’s version now has House Judiciary Committee approval.