The state of Minnesota is seriously fighting drunk drivers and trying to keep them off the roads as much as it can. This was the reason behind the law that requires drunk drivers to install a drunk driving test ignition lock system on their cars. This law was signed by Governor "Tim Pawlenty". This law is just one of the other attempts that the state of Minnesota is trying to keep its roads safe.

The law requires people that where repeatedly caught drunk driving their cars or driving at twice the speed limit because of being drunk, will be forced to install an ignition lock system that tests the driver's breath before it allows the car to start. The device tests the alcohol level in the persons' breath and does not allow the car to start if that level is above 0.02. Tampering with the lock will be considered a crime with serious consequences.

The state of Minnesota is on its way to employ interlocks that will require the driver to do re-tests and will prevent tampering and have the ability to prevent another person from starting the car for a drunk friend. All these laws show how desperately state of Minnesota is fighting impaired and drunk driving.

Although the law is signed and ready, it won't take effect until July in 2011. In the mean time officials will take the chance to implement and activate the rules and procedures.

The law highlights that DWI offenders who have higher alcohol levels that 0.16 must install this interlock system in every kind of vehicle they will ever drive. Some DWI offenders may choose not install the special ignition lock, but then will have driving privileges of less than one year. However, if they have more than three DWI offenses in less than ten years, then are obligated to install the interlock. After installing the lock, driver will gain full driving privileges immediately.

There is already 46 states in the US that have these interlock requirements implemented for DWI offenders. Research have been conducted in this matter and results show that it can indeed case 40 to 90 percent reduction in the number of chronic DWI offenses.

The ignition lock pilot program has already begun in Minnesota in 2009, July, and there are more than a thousand drivers who are effectively using the system to regain their driving privileges as soon as possible.

If you need to know more about ignition locks and ignition switches in cars take a look at http://www.lockbargains.com/locks_and_hardware/automotive/ignition-switch-locks.html for more details.