Senate Bill 809, sponsored by Michigan State Senator Tonya Schuitmaker, improves roadway safety by increasing the mandatory license suspension for intoxicated drivers from one year to one year and 45 days. The measure brings Michigan’s DWI/Interlock law into federal compliance to continue to receive federal funding for the highway safety improvement program, MAP-21. The bill now is P.A. 306.
Michigan’s Expanded License DWI / Ignition Interlock Bill was signed into law on October 14th by Governor Snyder. 2012 PA 306 takes immediate effect. DWI / Sobriety Court judges can start issuing the broader licenses right away, using the following standards:
During the license suspension previously mentioned, a DWI offender can be given a restricted license. This restricted license permits the person to whom it is issued to operate only a vehicle equipped with an ignition interlock device to drive to and from any of the following locations:
- The person’s residence
- The person’s work location
- In the course of the person’s employment or occupation, as long as a commercial driver’s license is not required
- Alcohol, drug or mental health education and treatment as ordered by the court
- Court ordered self-help programs, such as Alcoholics Anonymous
- Court hearings and probation appointments
- Drug and alcohol testing
- Court ordered community service
- An educational institution at which the person is enrolled as a student
- Ignition interlock service provider location as required
- A place of regularly occurring medical treatment, for a serious condition or for a medical emergency, for the person or a member of the person’s household or immediate family
This is one of several laws in the works and/or being passed thanks to the passage of MAP-21. On July 6th of this year President Obama signed a bill called MAP -21 (Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century) into law. With the passage of MAP-21, all states are now provided funding to help them implement their ignition interlock programs.
Way to go Michigan!