Vic: Ignition Interlocks For All Drink-Drivers By 2016

Victorian drink-drivers will be forced to pay for ignition-locking ‘interlock’ systems to be installed in their cars by 2016, the state’s Coalition Government has confirmed.

The new law, to be introduced in State Parliament today, comes in response to a Road Safety Victoria study last year that showed that 83 percent of respondents favour increasing the use of interlock devices.

Convicted drink-drivers in Victoria are currently required to have the interlock devices installed if their offence included a blood-alcohol reading of .15 or more. Drivers under 26 are forced to install an interlock if a reading of .07 or more is taken.

However, a new two-stage program will begin in October this year, reducing that minimum reading to .07 or more.