These punishments include extending the period of imprisonment or community service before parole or probation and requiring the use of ignition interlock devices during probation for second and subsequent intoxication-related traffic offenses. An ignition interlock device requires the driver to breathe into it before the car will start. Leek said if these two bills are not passed, money would have to be transferred from construction projects to safety projects. Kirksville attorney Seth Shumaker has tried many cases involving drinking and driving. He said he thinks the new blood-alcohol content level law, if passed, would increase the number of people picked up for drinking and driving.
Some people are on the border now.
Shumaker said .08 is a fairly low blood-alcohol content level, and he thinks this law may cause problems. Senior Tamara Veit said she thinks the proposed laws would be beneficial. I think we need stricter laws on alcohol, especially for driving. But the laws are only going to help if we enforce them. Senior Monty Platz said he hopes the laws work to lessen drunk driving but does not believe the open-container law will.