More Down-the-Rathole Tax Dollars for Statism

This money should be spent by private enterprise.

But Statism doesn't work that way, you see.

Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is the lead player in a legislative effort, already endorsed by a handful of other senators, that would spend $60 million to develop a program that would charge consumers for the costs of installing drunk-driving interlock devices in vehicles. (There's a Republican on the list of sponsors--from Tennessee, no less. Irony in lights, as it were.)

And that description is spun to a fare-thee-well.

"The goal over time is to equip all passenger vehicles in the United States with the technology, since without full implementation the benefits will be reduced," it explains.

So. Big Brother wants to install DUI detectors in every single new car sold in the USA.

Other than the obvious--that Big Brother will not prosecute drunk drivers effectively and the creepy 'intrusion' stuff, there's another problem.

"Putting alcohol detectors in all cars would effectively eliminate Americans' ability to have a glass of wine with dinner, a beer at a ball game, or a champagne toast at a wedding and drive home, because the devices will be set well below the legal limit," said Longwell.

It's a liability thing (thanks, trial lawyers!!). The manufacturer must set a 'safety margin' into the default standards to preserve his own neck.

And then there's the issue of reliability.

An analysis from the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers cited by the website said even if the machines were made to government accuracy standards, "there would still be almost 4,000 cases of misreadings per day. That's thousands of people trying to go to work, school, or about their business who could find their car locked down by a faulty interlock."

There will be a lot more halitosis. Mouthwash doesn't mix with alcohol sensors.

It's $60 million that the Feds should apply to the national debt.