Ensuring the Safety of our Residents - Lt. Governor Aiona

"This measure provides resources to improve our efforts to stop impaired driving and the tragedies that result from drunk driving," Lt. Governor Aiona said. "Most of the injuries, fatalities and property damage caused by drunk drivers are preventable and we must keep these drivers off of our highways."

The measure takes effect on Jan. 1, 2011 and is one of three laws enacted to implement the ignition interlock program to keep drunk drivers off of Hawai`i's highways.

In 2008, Governor Lingle signed Act 171 that established the framework for an ignition interlock program in Hawai`i. That Act created a 26-member Task Force to work out the steps to implement the program.

In 2009, the Governor signed Act 88 that addressed some of the key implementation issues and extended the Task Force for another year. It also gave the State Department of Transportation (DOT) rule-making authority to operate the program and allowed the department to seek a single vendor to install and maintain the interlock devices.

The latest law signed by Lt. Governor Aiona updates the previous two measures and makes policy changes. Most notably, the measure eliminates probation for second and third time offenders and instead these convicted offenders will be required to show "proof of compliance" with the interlock law.

"I applaud our ignition interlock Task Force members, which include county prosecutors, public defenders, public safety officers, transportation officials and highway safety advocates, for the long hours and hard work they put in to make our roads safe," the Lt. Governor added.