Texas Toughens Ignition Interlock Laws

A new Texas law goes into effect Sept. 1, requiring drunk driving offenders to install an ignition interlock on their vehicles before hitting the roads again.

 “Ensuring the safety of those on Texas’ roadways is of utmost importance, which is why I was proud to sign this bill into law,” said Governor Abbott. 

The implementation of this new tougher Ignition Interlock law is an important step in creating a safer driving experience for all residents and visitors to the Lone Star State.

Texas previously required ignition interlock devices only for repeat offenders and those with a blood alcohol concentration of .15 and above.

The new law applies to all offenders and follows the recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and other traffic safety organizations.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 40 percent of all traffic deaths in Texas are caused by a drunk driver.

Texas led the nation in drunk driving deaths in 2013, when 1,337 people were killed by a drunk driver.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) says they support the use of ignition interlocks for all offenders — instead of license suspension alone — because studies show that license suspensions are difficult to enforce and often ignored.

“On Tuesday, MADD celebrates a much-needed improvement to Texas’ drunk driving law as we head into the busy Labor Day weekend,” said MADD National President Colleen Sheehey-Church. “As we remind everyone to Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over, we are relieved to add Texas to the growing list of states that have taken action to protect residents and visitors from the 100 percent preventable crime of drunk driving.”

The new law requires the installation of an interlock for first-time offenders with a BAC of .08 or greater if they choose to drive following a DWI arrest during a license suspension.