Sen. Jorge Garcia, a Tucson Democrat, said he voted no because the bill is "overbroad, especially if it's your first offense." Sen. Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox, also voted against it.

The bill also would create a new category of extreme drunken drivers who have a blood-alcohol content over 0.20 percent. They would have to spend 45 days in jail with no time suspended.

Waring also sponsored Senate Bill 1252, which Napolitano signed into law last week. It will require extreme offenders with a blood-alcohol content over 0.15 percent to spend a full 30 days in jail.

"We're going to have some of the toughest laws in the country now," Waring said.

Rep. David Schapira, a Tempe Democrat, proposed the interlock provision that was added to Waring's bill. The House passed the bill overwhelmingly, 54-2.

Glynn Birch, the national president of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, praised the Arizona legislation when he was in the state recently.

"We're talking about saving lives," he said. "To see Arizona make this decision so quickly, it's a momentous occasion."

Birch said MADD wants every state to pass similar laws.

New Mexico has set the precedent for requiring ignition-interlock devices for all DUI offenders since 2005. But the implementation of the law hasn't been smooth in New Mexico. For example, in the county where nearly half of DUI cases are prosecuted, about 40 percent of drunken drivers tell the court they don't have a car and aren't going to drive, which exempts them from being ordered to have an interlock installed.

Those who lie to the court and continue to drive without an interlock are committing a crime but are prosecuted only if they are caught.

"They're taking a risk if they do that," O'Connor said. The courts now are starting to look up motor vehicle data to check vehicle registrations, she said.

The interlock devices have built-in features to prevent tampering, said Chick Richardson, owner of Advantage Interlock, one of the six companies that provide interlocks in Arizona.

A driver's breath is tested before the car will start, followed by intermittent tests while the car is running. That is to make sure a sober person does not start the car for the impaired driver, he said. The standards for devices vary, but the tests could come about 10 minutes into the drive and then every 30 or 45 minutes.

Some devices recognize drivers by the sound of a hum they're required to make while blowing, Richardson said. It's not possible to use a compressor or air from a balloon to trick the machines, because they're calibrated to detect bogus air.

"All of these are very effective means of deterring that," Richardson said.

Offenders are required to have the interlocks on all vehicles they drive. Weigele of the Arizona Licensed Beverage Association pointed out that an employer would probably squawk at having an interlock device installed on a company vehicle, which could put an offender's job in jeopardy.

In Arizona, some companies waive installation fees and charge a monthly fee of $60 to $75, Richardson said. Drivers visit the company every one or two months to have information downloaded to the MVD.

This information is courtesy of http://www.azcentral.com/