Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03081988 - S.3 S_3 THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA Adopted this Order on March 8, 1988 by the following vote: AYES: Supervisors Powers, Fanden, Torlakson, NOES: None ABSENT: Supervisors McPeak, Schroder ABSTAIN: None ------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------------------------------------------ SUBJECT: Guardian Interlock Systems The Board received the attached letter dated February 23 , 1988 from Mary B. Hinton, Program Manager, Guardian Interlock Systems, 1009 Grant Street, Denver, Colorado 80203 , offering to make a presentation on the Guardian Interlock System aimed at reducing the number of drinking drivers on the roads and highways. IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED that the attached letter is REFERRED to the Sheriff-Coroner. cc: Guardian Interlock Systems Sheriff-Coroner County Administrator I hereby certify that 4his is a true and correct copy of an action taken and eid'erid on the :ae tes of the Board of Supervisors on the date sf:ov,n. ATTESTED: PHIL BP.,TCHELOR, C e7k ci the board of Supervisors and County Administrator By , Deputy r ECEIVED GUARDIAN K SYSTEMS MA4 , �i988 RECEIVED INTERLOCK Februar 23 1988 �r�'; g°T=HELOR FEB 29 1988 y r:. ;1 U; :;UhERV;:QRS `�������"" °e ° SUPERVISOR SCHRODER Supervisor Robert Schroeder (Board Member) 520 La Gonda Flay Danville, CA 94526 Dear Supervisor Schroeder: If you could demonstrate to constituents positive action your Board has taken this term to reduce the number of drinking drivers on your county ' s streets and roads, you'd want to do it, wouldn' t you? The reason for asking is that the Guardian Interlock Responsible Driver Program offers just such an opportunity. The Guardian Interlock System is a technological device which, once installed in a vehicle , deters would-be drivers from starting the engine if they fail the breath test due to their blood lalcohol level. Anti-tamper features help insure that only intended drivers will be able to start their vehicles . The enclosed brochures contain addi- tional information. What does this have to do with the Board of Supervisors? As decision- makers on use of county funds , you may be interested tAat the National Safety Council assigns a figure of $240 ,000 to each death in a commu- nity. Some injury accidents cost even more . The point here is when a death or injury as caused by a drunken driver, the county pays , as well as the victim' s family. I have contacted Judges , District Attorneys , Probation Officers , and Defense Attorneys in your county. They have been interested, but have not yet used the interlock system as an alternative in DUI .-cases . A statement of support from� the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors may encourage the judicial system to im- plement this proven, new alternative . I am anxious to present further details to your committee. Being sensitive to your time constraints , I am asking for 151 minutes to out- ling our monitoring program, demonstrate the system, answer questions and ask for a statement of support. I can be reached at 415/578-0820 or 415/349-6286 . I would appreciate a response to my request at your earliest convenience. Sincerely, t ,J Mary B. Hinton Program Manager 1TRi6UTiON Encl : News articles TroSm CA showing public support and brochure A Division of Guardian.Technologies,Inc. 1009 Grant St. Denver,Colorado 80203 1-303-831-6333 ` Toll Free 1-800-457-0001 C''^nmur.!`.;, Devc!cpment FAX 303860-1034 Counsel, I Guardian Interlock Responsible Driver Programs" significantly reduces risk of repeat y drunken driving _� r - ; t T ' z� fi iY ■ A STATISTICAL ANALYSIS GUARDIAN INTERLOCK REARREST RATE 4.6% OF DUI/DWI*offenders in the RESPONSIBLE DRIVER PROGRAM Guardian Interlock Responsible Driver SAMPLE POPULATION Programs"shows that only 4.6% 12 MONTH PERIOD were rearrested for drunken driving within the 12 months ending December, 1987. In comparison,many jurisdictions of these monitoring checks to the added safeguard,it features technol- nationwide report that approx- court every 60 days. ogy which can detect attempted imately 15%of multiple DUI/DWI More than 100 courts in eight tampering a,d circumvention. offenders subject to only conven- states are including the program For more information on the tional sentencing are rearrested in their sentencing of offenders Guardian Interlock Responsible Driver within one year. to deter further drunken driving Program,call toll-free(800)457-0001; The statistics indicate that court offenses.The program can be used as In Colorado,call(303)831-6333. officials who sentence offenders to an alternative to traditional sentenc- Or write:Program Development, the Responsible Driver Program are ing or to supplement and enhance Guardian Technologies,Inc., 1009 three times more likely to reduce the such measures as alcohol treatment. Grant Street,Denver,CO 80203. number of repeat drunken driving The Guardian Interlock,which Results on the program will be offenses in their jurisdictions than requires a breath test before a vehicle updated periodically. those who do not use the program. will start,is tamper-resistant.As an Driving-Under-the-Influence/Driving-While-Intoxicated The analysis involved a sample pop- ulation of mostly multiple offenders sentenced for at least one year to the program typically as a condition of probation for drunken driving. THE RESPONSIBLE DRIVER PROGRAM . .. ... - provides for installation of the •• •••• Guardian Interlock'in an offender's . . •.• vehicle and monitors his or her use of the computerized device.Guardian GUARDIAN Technologies,Inc.,manufacturer of the device,reports the results TECHNOLOGIES, INC. 0988.Guardian Technologies,Inc. IRG-88122 Edi'etonals/Letters ROBERT D.INGLE,Senior Vice President and Executive Editor +jll �"�tj�IC JEROME M.CEPPOS,Managing Editor JENNIE BUCKNER,Managing Editor/Afternoon 111actigl X=5 ROB ELDER, Vice President and Editor DEAN R.BARTEE,Senior-Vice President JOHN B.HAMMETT,Senior Vice President PETER E.PIT& Vice President/Operations TALLY C.LIU, Vice President and Chief Financial Officer TIMOTHY J.ALLDRIDGE,Marketing Director RONALD G.BEACH,Classified Advertising Director WILLIAM A. OTT RICHARD R FETBCH,Director of Circulation Operations i President and Publisher ROBERT C.WILLIAMSON,Display Advertising Director I Editorials Wednesday, Feb. 10, 1988 813 Ignition locks can cut carnage I'm sick and tired of reading about j drunken drivers killing innocent peo- ple. What bothers me more is that these killers are often treated as though they made an honest mistake. Then they do it again. Stiffer penalties for drinking-and- driving coupled with the surge in pub- lic awareness over the past five years haven't worked. In fact the numbers f have remained about the same, even. f increasing in some counties. Isn't it time to try something new? f Ignition interlock devices are current- ly available that require a driver to prove he or she is sober before starting a car. They're out there, and they work. Why aren't judges mandat- Ing these devices into the cars of all drunk-driving offenders? -- Janice Marabella Sen Jose Sunday,December 7,1486 Timos-Standord,Eureka,CoBlornle upinoans B ref-th con�ction: . It is one of the most disturbing issues affecting modern smiety:the drunken driver. Despite nationwide efforts to keep dnmks from behind .7 f i the teheel, they are still respcinsible for ricarlythaif of a. q America's traffic fat=alities: Th:mks to recently signed legislation,Cniifoinia judges .. scion will have another weapon in their arsenal for-com-' +. ha ting drunken driving:-..`. : '' : "` r' ;•tf/,t I! is a breath analyzer that attaches to elle ignition system of a car, preventing a person from starting his t, + vehicle if he is rintttk. lly February or htarch, Ilumboldt County judges will tN=able to order this unitlnstalled on a drunken driver's 4s ; car as a term of probation. (!! The apparatus,-about the size of a car radio,would be ir_st'Iiled at the driver's expense. It would be leased to rt him at a cost of roughly 1.100 to 1500 per year. °r Each time the driver wanted to start his car,he first xa: �•`tt;' ,'j vould have to breathe into a small cup attached to the unit. A breath analyzer would measure the alcoholic content "George, I'm in the middlf of the the breath and electronically prevent the ignition you come back later?" j system from firing if the driver's blood alcohol level ex- ceeded .03 percent. This is well below the state-defined level of intoxication for drivers,which Ls,10 percent. The driver would have to learn n secret code of short � � ] � and long breaths to start his car,which would limit the National probability of a friend starting the car and then turning over the k;ys. Can it work? t o `p'� y{ ►n 'J��i L That's hard to sny.There are some obvious pitfalls.An ilta)viauai cuuid aiway3 use anuther car to drive to his or P.t. rtolw-r — favorite bar—although that would be illegal and would " "I GTO?'"""""' the person's probation. WAS;tINGT42r— B*tie" it ec jeopardize P not,there are rwople in Washington Is It too cosily? these days who are not talking about Obviously VOo to 1500 isn't chicken feed. But in the theiranionsarmstienlcruis, context of the present drunken driving fines and resattt onp of thine very Imr+ru,nt tub- j jectfees,it is not exorbiOnt.Those costs commons exceed! more that Is rrlfpp,ng up more and i r Y more oltrn is:J•..,w��t what V hop It. k St,000 and can double if an individual hires an attorney. But to the Americliniddleclnss. It is also possible that insurance companies would take Specifically, are the layoffs and -Lb the device into acttwnt when readjusting insurance other convulsions that have stricken e retniurns after n drunken-driving conviction. use traditionalaonowmansign hein- I, !r g � Oustries an erninom sign of the h The program would be particularly cost-effective if the future or just part of the growing tr. pains on the way to a better 't breath analyzer were to become an alternative to having cc Y7 1 one's license taken away. It could allow a driver the Many economist4 agree the middle ability to continue earning his paycheck by having the class is shrinking,but they disagt*e .b use of his car to get to work. :;. ofcu�you feel that like you're working Under the new inw;the device Cain be used as an added, hlrder,these,devs but have less in ! restriction during probation.Whether It eventually might show for it:you're.probably right," substitute for license,revocation,depends on the success said lattherine Gillman,an analyst �,,'!'. .,, ..:. �for the i�d al Ofrr of Technology f of a planned test program. :'". `. ;•, AU menL, ' Four counties—yet to be•iiamed-will ph ticipatR in" Robert Lawrence,an economist at a two-year pilot project using the new device.They will the Brookings Institution, agrees ; keep records to see if.there,is a reduction,in,repeat pf-* with (3lllman. But It believes the tenses as a result of its use., economy is adjusting lbel1 and the i' middle classwiikrebound. A dropof 25 percent will be considered "extremes Taking a m'ddlil ground, : fK• Y SecreLiry of Lnt>� i�iti'sam Brock successful" and a decline of 10 percent will be termed has laid the future eXrfIv could be merely"successful."These results could lead the state very Prosperous for all,but that de- egislaturc to enact laws making the device mandatory pends on the"ions U.S.industry I in certain insOnces, makes ttdayoth abut training and atLil,ting to the eharfging war Uorce. While some might view the device as a technological, tanman and dthers bark tip their I invasion of privacy,it is realty a form of public protec- claim about the shrinking middle tion, Repeat offenders have a serious problem. They.. class by planting to numbers in- dicating the median family flor a often cannot properly judge when they are fit to drive.A fau,ily nl.,pur) has dropped by s device that tells them when they have had too much to perct•nt lAnwi-en Ira and 1!415.using drink is in their best interest as well as that of other real d,diars tedjustrd lot inflation), the median income In 1%15was motorists. M,35 while the figure lot 1773 was fiurlkoidt's Municipal Court judges should jp{itve the t-7,tr7. program a try on an experimental basis,A resolution of ktedian Income Is the mid-point support irnm local supervisors might encourage them. t As n rnunty, we should be ready to explore all Letters, at:tl!.:t•..,up!ions fnr cnutiteractinl!a%r Hotitt sew lel t+ro- ��— ��. . — . . i TRACYYPRESS D.10.200 STOCKTON MET ROPOL11AN AREA - Car device keeps drivers. sober By CLARK McK1NLEY ment panel that is linked by a cedtl loon. The installing company United Ptess lnternotionol phone-type cord to a small box about 6v periodically checks the computer for size of a pack of cigarettes. The driver tampering and advises the sentencing ACRAMENTO — California judges blows through a plastic tube affixed to judge if probation terms have been vio. have begun. ordering convicted the box, and a computer processes the lated. drunken drivers to use a compute- breath and records its blood-alcohol The program's effectiveness will be rized device that makes them prove to level.The test takes five to 10 seconds. tested in pilot programs in Alameda,So. their cars that they are sober. In California, the ignition won't work noma and San Diego counties.Judges in The "'ignition interlock device" is if the levet is above 0.03 percent. The Santa Clara, Los Angeles and Riverside similar to the Breathalyzer commonly legal standard for driving under the in- counties also have expressed strong in. used by highway officers to measure the fluence of alcohol is 0.10 percent. terest and, in some cases, already have amount of alcohol in a driver's body. "It's just like putting on your seat• been ordering ofrenders to use the sys- Unlike the Breathalyzer, the ignition belt," says Richard Perea, who installs tem. i interlock prevents a driver from start- the device for Guardian Interlock Sys. Ali interim report to the Legislature ing a vehicle's engine if alcohol — tems Inc. in Foster City. "It will beep to by the state IOffice of Traffic Safety is usually more than in one beer — is in warn you if you've been drinking. If required next July. A final report asses- the blood. there's a high level, it will shut down sing the program is due by Jan.1,1990, Preliminary research 'indicates that and you can't try again for 45 minutes." Some tentative conclusions already offenders accept the device because it al. Anti-tampering safeguards discourage are suggested in a pilot study by lows them to drive without fear of being restricted drivers from having others Maryland researcher Elizabeth Baker. drunk or of driving illegally. take the test in their place, or from try- She surveyed ignition interlock users in California adopted statewide use of ing to fool the ignition interlock com- Calvert County, Did., where a judge has the technology as an alternative condi• puter with air from a hair dryer or bat- ordered their;use for the past year and a tion of probation in drunken driving half. cases in September 1986. 1 Jul f this s><:>?;<><:r> ^! :;x<:;<>.:H •y.:>..H.:;.;,:;;;,.»«<;<; Baker told United Press International P n Y o that all 16 offenders who responded to year, ignition 'interlock systems of three P companies were certified for use. her survey said the system is useful, Following California's lead, )egis- WHERE TO WRITE and not one had received a subsequent latures in Washington, Oregon, Texas drunken driving conviction. and Michigan enacted similar programs. LEGISLATORS "When they did drink over the limit, Also, judges on their own authority inthey had someone else drive, waited other states including Ohio,Florida and FEDERAL awhile,or walked home,"she said."The g Senators — Alan Cranston, 112 Hart Maryland have been ordering ignition Senate Office Building,Washington,D.C. key is whether this will change behav- interlocks installed for offenders. Other 20510. Pete Wilson,7<^0 Hart Senate 0t- for after the iunit is taken off the car. orders for private purchases are coming rice Building,Washington,D.C.20510. We're convinced it will work well — if in from parents concerned about teen- Representative — Norm Shumway, it's on the car, 1203 Longworth House office Building, Baker sa s the system is referable to age drinking. Washington,D.11 20515. Y 1 Y P STATE lifting the otfrender's drivers license, The System works like this: STATE — John Garamendi, Room since research indicates as many as 80 A convicted drunken driver, usrally 4081, State Capitol, Sacramento, CA percent of convicted drunken drivers one with multiple offenses or an r spe- 95814. continue drivinganyway. y' cially flagrant violation, is told by a Assemblyman — Patrick Johnston, Room 4112, State Caoilol, Sacramento, Marilyn Sabin, program coordinator judge to have an ignition interlock do- for the California Office of Traffic vice installed on his vehicle. He then CA 95814, an annual teased cost of a?out COUNTY Safety, says, 'The program is not fail- paysSupervisor — Evelyn Costs. Seventh safe,but it's another attempt to put con- $500 for installation, instruction, mon- Floor,County Courthouse,222 E.weber, straints on drunken drivers." itoring and maintenance to a private Stockton,CA 95202. She concedes that some offenders in company authorized for the program. Ctrr ' City Counc.1 t — City Hart, Tracy, GA the program may fry to circumvent the The hardware consists of radio-sized 95376. technology by' using other cars, but it equipment installed in the car's it:stru- will not be easy. I r I t I �i, �, ! CARL AD, A LA CDSTAN S.%V 6,000— SAN DIEGO 14ETROPOU1AN AREA d to . drunk dri�f°'ing�� t� Now technology can help parents protect a major step in helping teen-agers and social their teen-agers from drinking and driving drinkers learn to drive responsibly," stated and teach people their drinking limits before Gary Schlatter, vice president of marketing they attempt to drive. at Guardian Interlock Systems, a division of Beginning Oct. 19 and for the first time in Guardian Technologies. California, The Guardian Interlock ignition The Guardian Interlock ignition system system, a computlerize� device which deters connects a hand-held breath analyzer to a drivers from starting their cars if they are vehicle's ignition by way of a small computer intoxicated, will be available for consumer located under the dashboard. Before a per- purchase in San Diego. son can start the car, he or she must first A demonstration of the device and inter- take a "breath test" by blowing into the views can be arranged in San Diego by call- breath analyzer. If the driver's blood alcohol ing Jane Harding, (800) 457-0001, at Guardian concentration (BAC) as determined by the Technologies, Inc., of Denver, Colo. breath test meets or exceeds the BAC setting "Our focus to date has been on providing on the device, the car will not start. full-service programs to the courts to help "The Guardian Interlock consumer model judges in their efforts to stop repeat drunken features several options from which a person driving," said Greg Blair, president of can choose to protect family members, Guardian Technologies, the manufacturer of friends or .even themselves from driving the device. "And because of growing re- while intoxicated," said Schlatter. quests from concerned parents and respon- sible social drinkers, we are expanding our tivated for either round-the-clock protection product availability by offering the Guard- or for 12-hour periods to.cover 'peak times' ian Interlock for sale to the public." when an adult may ,wish to drink socially but Although demand for the interlock device does not want to risk crossing the line. The can be attributed in part to teen-age drink- Guardian Interlock will tell a person if he or ing, said Blair, the problem of drunken driv- she has had too much to drink by not allow- ing spans all age groups. Alcohol-related in the car to start." motor vehicle accidents remain the leading g cause of death among teen-agers, experts Cost of the Guardian Interlock is $486 plus agree. Yet more than 80 perent of Americans tax, andit includes its installation at the admit to driving after drinking, according to company's San Diego service center, 7936 the National Highway Traffic Safety Ad- Miramar Road. To order the Guardian In- ministration. terlock, call toll-free (800) 457-0001 and ask "We view ignition interlock technology as for consumer sales.