Senate committee passes DUI penalties bill

Tallahassee, Florida - Drunk drivers with large amounts of alcohol in their blood could soon face harsher penalties for first offenses, having to breathe into a device to start their cars.

A bill discussed Wednesday in the Senate targets first time DUI offenders caught with a blood alcohol level of more than .15 percent — nearly twice the legal limit to drive. A proposed law would mandate that people caught driving with that amount of alcohol in their system would have to blow into a breathalyzer-like device to get their car to start for six months. If a driver's blood alcohol content is above .2 percent, the device would have to be installed for just under a year.

Currently, only people who register a blood alcohol content of above .2 percent on a first-time DUI offense are required to have the so-called ignition interlock device installed. Otherwise, current law requires the device only after a second offense or if a minor is in the vehicle.

The Senate Committee on Transportation unanimously approved the bill Wednesday.