Ignition interlock a great, safe idea

As a retired police officer who is reminded daily via old injuries of a DUI driver who in 1976 totaled my unmarked, I follow the DUI issue with more than normal interest. I would argue with the logic of the DUI attorney quoted a recent article. He states "less than 1 percent of first-time offenders arrested in Illinois each year are rearrested within the next 12 months." I also agree with him when he says "It is pork barrel politics meets DUI."

In my short career as a patrol officer, I can recall arresting at least two drivers who had pending DUI cases; one of these arrestees went on to a third arrest. Then the most disturbing case was a gentleman who had two pending cases, mine became the third and he was subsequently arrested in DuPage giving him four current DUI cases. He pleaded out to all the cases and was sentenced to 364 days in DuPage County jail thus avoiding Cook County jail.

I also recall an article in the Daily Herald of many years ago which stated a survey of DUI arrestees found that they drive an average of about 120 times alcohol-impaired without being stopped by the police.

Based upon my experience and your survey article, I think the ignition interlock is a great idea to protect the public by keeping DUI drivers who hope to beat the odds off the roadways.

Tom Vaid

Grayslake