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Tougher Ignition Interlock Requirement for Drunk Driving in Delaware

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DOVER, Del. (AP) - State lawmakers have given final passage to a bill requiring all people convicted of drunken driving in Delaware to have ignition interlock devices installed on vehicles they drive. 

The Senate passed the measure on a 20-to-1 vote Monday on the final day of the legislative session. The legislation now goes to Gov. Jack Markell for his signature.

Currently, interlock devices are required only for first offenders arrested with a blood-alcohol concentration of .15 or higher or who refuse to take a chemical test, and for repeat drunken drivers. 

The legislation, similar to that in at least 20 other states, requires use of an interlock device for at least four months for a first offense.  

Supporters of the bill say the devices can help reduce drunken driving arrest rates and recidivism.

Don Rush is the News Director at Delmarva Public Media. An award-winning journalist, Don reports major local issues of the day, from sea level rise, to urban development, to the changing demographics of Delmarva.