Legislation to require first-time drunk driving offenders to install ignition interlock devices in their cars in order to receive probation won unanimous approval from a key Florida House panel Tuesday.

  • Measure stiffens state's current law
  • Some concern about offenders circumventing interlocks
  • Legislation poised to sail through next two committee stops

The measure (HB 949) would stiffen the state's current law, which calls for interlocks to be installed after a second conviction of driving under the influence. Under the bill's language, first-time offenders would have their convictions expunged after six months of problem-free driving with an interlock.

Before the vote by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, parents of children killed by drunk drivers hailed the legislation as long overdue.

"There is no accountability for this hundred percent preventable act, and I'm standing here with my daughter because there's nothing keeping an offender from driving again drunk," said Bill DeMott, whose 20-year-old daughter, Keri Anne, was struck and killed by a drunk driver in Brevard County in October 2015.

Some lawmakers, however, expressed concern about offenders finding ways to circumvent interlocks. Rep. Wengay 'Newt' Newton (D-St. Petersburg) suggested amending the bill to require authorities to monitor the mileage on offenders' cars.

"Mileage would be kind of key, 'cause you could put an interlock device on my car, I can park that car, and I can also go rent a wreck and drive it around and drink and do whatever I want, and in six months, my DUI goes away," Newton said.

Given Tuesday's vote, the proposed crackdown appears poised to sail through its next two committee stops en route to a floor vote later in the legislative session.

"We need accountability on both sides of the driver's seat," DeMott said. "We need to start protecting our communities by not saying it's OK to drink and drive. My Keri Anne did not have an option, and neither should a DUI offender."