According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration last year 10,839 people died in alcohol-related crashes, 206 of those deaths were in Washington State. As an Everett auto accident attorney I am always shocked by the staggering amount of DUI offenders we see every year, my Seattle wrongful death law firm handles the cases of the victims of the offenders and I know just how devastating these car accidents can be.

Governor Christine Gregoire recently signed legislation that will help make DUI penalties a lot tougher, but what happens to those 16,000 people arrested each year in Washington while they wait for their trial. Currently they are flooding our jails costing taxpayers anywhere from $85 to $125 a day to sit in county jail. For violent offenders I fully agree that they should have to sit in jail while they wait for a trial, but for those that were pulled over before they were able to do any damage, the city of Seattle has come up with an alternative to jail. Offenders that are convicted of a misdemeanor DUI will be given the option the wear (and pay for) an alcohol monitoring ankle bracelet that can detect 0.02 percent of alcohol through the skin and can detect tampering. The ankle bracelet will cost offenders $15 a day to wear, but will allow them to continue on with their life while they await trial, meaning they can continue to be productive members of society, working and taking care of their family.

alcohol-monitoring ankle bracelet

 DUI offenders are generally ordered not to drink if they do not end up in jail while they are waiting, but currently there is no way to know if they violate this ruling. The ankle bracelets will put an end to the honor system method and hopefully help lower the rate at which people re-offend. Driving under the influence is an easily prevented auto accident that can result in serious injuries and all too often fatal accidents.

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