Rep. Debbie Dingell wants to add breathalyzers to cars in honor of Michigan family killed by drunk

[MichMan]

Source: MLive

Rep. Debbie Dingell, a Democrat representing Michigan's 12th district, announced plans this week to introduce legislation aimed at reducing drunk driving.

The action is prompted by the deaths of Northville residents Issam Abbas and Dr. Rima Abbas and their three children - Ali, 14; Isabelle, 13; and Giselle, 7, who were killed by a drink driver in Kentucky while on their way home from a Florida vacation.“Their loss has devastated our community in ways you cannot imagine,” Dingell said during a Thursday speech on the U.S. House of Representatives floor. “In every sense of the word, they were a community. Their absence stunned this community and is felt deeply and emotionally.”

Dingell, whose 12th District includes Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, Dearborn and the Abbas’ hometown of Northville, is planning to introduce legislation that would require all new vehicles to have interlocking breathalyzers.

These devices are usually attached to the ignition system of the vehicles and require you to test your blood-alcohol content before unlocking and starting your car. Simply put, if your BAC is above the legal limit, it won't allow you to start the car.




Read more: https://www.mlive.com/news/2019/01/rep-debbie-dingell-wants-to-add-breathalyzers-to-cars-in-honor-of-abbas-family.html

[NurseJackie]

1. It will never happen.

But it's a nice gesture to honor the family.

[flotsam]

20. It is not "Nice"

it makes democrats look like lunatics...

[TheBlackAdder]

24. This is like when PETA wanted Fishkill NY to change their name because it indicates harm to fish.

.

When they went to the town to protest, and started a PR move with media present, the mayor mentioned that Kill is another name for Stream... hence, Fish Stream, NY.

.

[TheBlackAdder]

23. NJ put PedoBear stickers on teen drivers cars, which identify vulnerable teens to cops and pervs.

.

It was all because one woman's kid got killed while riding in a car by someone I think driving past curfew.

The logic was, police might see the sticker and pull people over. It was a 'feel good' gesture that is a complete pain in the ass.


The problem is, these stickers are supposed to be attached to the license plates when the kids drive the cars and remove them when they aren't. In reality, people either leave them on the car, or never put them on because parents don't want pervs stalking young drivers.

.

[USALiberal]

2. What a hassle. No thanks! nt

[dbackjon]

3. Indeed. I had to drive a car for a friend that had that

For someone with asthma like me, it was hard to get a good reading sometimes.

Plus, it requires blowing every 10 minutes or so, which is distracting while driving.

[Mr.Bill]

4. If they put it on every new car,

they will destroy the auto industry. Being from Michigan, she should understand this.

[TheBlackAdder]

25. Nothing transmits the RW/GOP message, "Dems want Big State," like this feel good overreach!

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Fourth Amendment: "The right of the people to be secure....": etc., etc.

You can't search people just because it makes you feel good to search people.

Period, the end, SCOTUS 9-0, but it would never get that far.

[Hotler]

6. Sure, only if they add a cell phone blocker of some type also.

Drunk driving and distracted driving kills.

[LunaSea]

7. Didn't this get floated in the early seventies?

I recollect some discussion of such a device, but it was cut short pretty quick.
Similar arguments about "hurting the industry" were made about seatbelts and safety glass too.

[jmowreader]

14. In 1974 they had seatbelt interlocks

If you didn’t buckle up, the car wouldn’t start.

No one bought a 1974 car.

[MurrayDelph]

8. Can we put one

on the exit door to Brett Kavanaugh's office?

[marble falls]

9. I'll support that one.

[Crutchez_CuiBono]

13. Snap.

[Jose Garcia]

10. I'm frightened to wonder what her solution to STDs is

[Bernardo de La Paz]

11. Nanny state at worst. It would infuriate people many times needlessly locking them out.

It's a tragedy the loss of the family, but interlocking breathalyzers are not an answer. They are however an excellent requirement to impose on repeat drunk drivers (twice would be enough repetitions).

[bitterross]

12. Bad idea. Talk about the nanny state.

The road to defeat by a Republican begins this way.

[Honeycombe8]

15. Absolutely not.

We can't build armored cars to protect against every bad thing that someone does, when most people don't even do that. All mfrs need is one more thing to add to the cost of their cars, and one more thing to be sued over, if a drunk driver finds a way around that (getting his friend to breathe into it).

[TomSlick]

16. What a uniquely bad idea!

[Cold War Spook]

17. 1966, my girl friend was killed by a drunk driver while I deployed.

I never heard any one suggest this nor do I think it is a good answer to drunk driving.

[KO_ Stradivarius]

18. Yeah... right... fuck that.

Nanny state issues aside, even the ones cops use can be problematic and have to be
calibrated at least once a year, and even they can't get it right.
What's the plan for that (verifying and ensuring the accuracy of these)?
What about states with vehicle safety inspections.
Will that be something else for them to check?

[JDC]

19. Often DUI offenders are court ordered to install these devices

I don't drink, so I say nay.

[Jake Stern]

21. I DESPISE drunk drivers

I also despise punishing people for crimes they haven't committed and requiring automakers to install an interlock in all cars is just that.

Hope this bill gets shitcanned ASAP.

[LiberalFighter]

22. Absolutely not!

This will be a severe handicap for most people if they have to use it to start the car. If there is cause due to someone being a drunk then yes. But for the rest of us. Absolutely not!