New Kansas DUI Bill Approved

            As of last week both the Kansas House and Senate unanimously approved a new DUI bill and sent it onto Governor Sam Brownback.  Primarily, the new law adds a restriction of attaching an ignition interlock device to any vehicle driven by a person charged with a DUI.  The bill concentrates on the number of convictions and continuously adds years required with the interlock device restriction for repeat convictions.  Every conviction now includes a "restriction" period, requiring the installation of an interlock device for a certain amount of time.
            Interestingly, individuals convicted for the fifth time will no longer have their driving privileges permanently revoked.  Rather, such individuals will have to permanently drive a vehicle equipped with an interlock device.  According to The Topeka Capital-Journal “[t]he rationale was that an estimated 80 percent of these offenders continue to drive illegally.”  Such devices will be required to be installed and maintained at the owner’s expense.
            The proposed bill also changes the way convictions are reported.  Thus, enforcement officers will be able to better track repeat offenders.  The Topeka-Capital Journal quoted Senator Jeff King saying, “Law enforcement is vigorously behind this bill.”