Governor Matt Blunt (R-MO) has announced a plan designed to better protect Missourians from drunk drivers. He’s asking the General Assembly to approve legislation that would require a repeat offender to modify his or her vehicle to add an ignition interlock device before driving privileges could be restored.

Under current law, courts are required to mandate ignition interlock devices, which disable the vehicles of those who are drunk or drinking, on the second or subsequent offense. But Blunt says poor compliance in the judicial system has led to more than 80 percent of repeat drunk driving offenders getting back behind the wheel without any preconditions.

The Governor’s proposal would strengthen existing law by making ignition lock devices a necessary requirement before the Department of Revenue could issue a repeat drunk driving offender a new license.

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