Blow me

New Mexico may be poised to require new state residents with DUI convictions from elsewhere to install interlock-ignition devices on their cars, but Pennsylvania may go one step beyond. If State Representative Paul I. Clymer gets his way, all Pennsylvanians will have to puff into breathalyzers before starting their cars.

Clymer's proposal would require that, by 2009, all new cars sold in Pennsylvania have a device installed to estimate the amount of alcohol on the breath of a driver. If the machine believes the driver's BAC is greater than .025 percent -- significantly less than the legal limit of .08 percent -- the car will not start. By 2010, all motorists would be forced to install the devices on existing cars before being able to sell them as used vehicles.

.025 percent? Forget about having a beer at lunch and then heading back to the office. Forget, for that matter, about having a drink with dinner and then driving home.

And, of course, forget about the presumption of innocence; everybody will have to prove their sobriety over and over again if Rep. Clymer gets his way.

Interestingly, the people's representative apparently never checked to see how much his proposal would cost each person who owns a car.

The state representative was unaware of the cost of the installation of the interlock ignition systems, which range from $700 to $1,200. Pennsylvania Interlock, which provides the systems to court-ordered DUI offenders, leases the units for $1,050 for one year. The cost includes installation, routine calibrations, and removal within a year’s time.

He says he might consider some minor modifications to the bill because of the cost. Of course, that's only a reprieve -- maybe -- until the technology becomes less expensive. Then, it's sayonara Fourth Amendment as everybody is forced to demonstrate their alcohol-free-status to their own automobiles.

Hat tip to Radley Balko at Hit & Run.