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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; New ignition-interlock measures to counter drunken driving become effective Friday.</p><p>At a news conference Thursday in Harrisburg, state Sen. John Rafferty joined lawmakers, law enforcement, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Parents Against Impaired Driving, PennDOT and other advocacy groups to discuss the impact and implementation of Pennsylvania&#8217;s new ignition-interlock law.</p><p>An ignition-interlock demonstration was organized by the Pennsylvania DUI Association in a vehicle equipped with the device.</p><p>The new law &#8212; passed last year &#8212; requires first-time DUI offenders tested with a blood-alcohol level of .10 percent or higher to use ignition interlocks for at least 12 months.</p><p>&#8220;Ignition interlocks are smart on crime and proven to stop drunk-driving attempts,&#8221; Rafferty, a bill sponsor, said in a news release. &#8220;With this new law, ignition interlocks will be available to more individuals and allow them to be productive members of society in a strictly-controlled environment while serving their drunk-driving sentence.&#8221;</p><p>Jana Tidwell, of AAA Mid-Atlantic, said AAA has long supported the use of Ignition Interlock Devices (IID) for first-time offenders.</p><p>&#8220;Drivers who are driving under the influence are a danger not only to themselves and their passengers but to other highway users including other motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians,&#8221; Tidwell said</p><p>Pennsylvania now joins 48 other states in expanding ignition interlock to first-time DUI offenders. Previously, an IID was required for only second and subsequent offenses.</p><p>The new law would allow first-time offenders to drive immediately with the IID installed, rather than wait until serving a driver&#8217;s license suspension, currently between 30 days and one year. The new law also applies to drivers who refuse to submit to chemical testing. Currently, a driver who refuses the test would receive between a year and 18-month suspension.</p><p>Under the new law, a first-time offender who refuses to take the test will still have their license suspended, but will be eligible for an IID after six months.</p><p>Craig Stedman, district attorney for Lancaster County, said ignition interlocks save lives. He said in 2016, they prevented more than 7,000 DUIs.</p><p>In 2016, there were 10,256 alcohol-related crashes in Pennsylvania that resulted in 297 deaths, PennDOT reported.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Rafferty </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/web1_intoxalock04-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Rafferty </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

New DUI measures go into effect this week