At present, sentences requiring alcohol interlocks are applied to around 100 recidivist drunk drivers a year. Alcohol-activated locks that prevent drink-drivers from starting their cars will soon be mandatory for repeat offenders. Those caught driving with a reading of more than 3.2 times the legal alcohol limit would also have to have one of the devices. Foss said interlocks had been shown to reduce reoffending rates by around 60 per cent. Now that they are mandatory, they could be applied to between 4000 and 5000 people a year.

Source: Otago Daily Times August 09, 2016 03:22 UTC