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State judge makes pitch for ignition locks for drunk drivers

By Douglas A. Berman

Thanks to a helpful commentor, I just noticed this terrific Slate piece in which a retired state court judge makes an effective pitch for one of my favorite modern technocorrection punishment : ignition locks for drunk drivers.  The piece is headlined "Baby, You Can't Drive Your Car: A judge's favorite punishment for drunken drivers?ignition-interlock," and it discusses lots of legal reform issues that transcend just how to deal with drunk drivers: On May 28, 1987, I became the first judge in the state of California to order convicted drunken drivers to install ignition-interlock devices in their cars.  The device is designed to stop people who have been drinking alcohol from starting their cars by requiring them first to blow into it.  If there is alcohol on the driver's breath, the device will not allow the ignition system to operate...continue to full post

Full post as published by Sentencing Law and Policy on September 24, 2009 (boomark / email).