There's a great article over at Life360.com on Hyla's experience with owning a breathalyzer. Give it a quick read.

http://www.life360.com/blog/why-i-own-a-breathalyzer/

Associated Press -- Some drunken driving offenders will soon have to prove they haven't had a drink before they can start their vehicles.

A law that takes effect today requires offenders to install ignition-interlock devices in their vehicles. If the device detects alcohol on the driver's breath, the vehicle will not start.

The law starts on an experimental basis in four counties - Alameda, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Tulare.

The experiment phase will last five years, after which lawmakers can consider expanding the program statewide.

Supporters hope the built-in Breathalyzers will help reduce accidents and deaths, as they have in other states.

Pennsylvania wine lovers can now purchase a bottle at supermarkets -- but only after they blow into a Breathalyzer.

Easing up on its strict liquor laws, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board this week began allowing wine sales in grocery stores. The pilot program involved machines installed in two stores near Harrisburg.

After selecting which wine they want on a touch screen -- the machines offer 53 varieties -- wine drinkers insert their drive's license (an employee at the Liquor Control Board can see the customer through a camera) and their credit card into the device. Then they are asked to blow into an opening in the device.

Only those who are sober get the sale.

If successful, the PLCB aims to launch kiosk sales in at least 100 stores statewide in August.

Nicole O'Reilly

Hamilton police laid six impaired driving charges over the weekend, demonstrating a disturbing trend when the weather is warmer.

With warm weather and patio season starting, Const. Claus Wagner, Hamilton police traffic safety co-ordinator, says too many people are not getting the message.

“People have to understand that having two beers in an hour or even one beer for some people, you can’t get behind the wheel of a car,” he said. “If you’re not impaired, you might be over the legal limit.”

Of the six charged, four were impaired — over 80 milligrams — and two were charged with refusing a breathalyzer test.

Wagner said the charges occurred all over the city and at various times.

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — Authorities say former Brazil striker Romario was fined US$530 for refusing to take a breathalyzer test during a traffic stop.

Brazil's state government says in a statement that Romario was asked to take the test early Monday as police randomly checked for drunk drivers.

Romario gave no reason for refusing, but was forced to call a friend to come and drive his car home for him.

Romario - who led Brazil to the 1994 World Cup title and was voted the world's best player that year - has seen other trouble of late.

Last July he spent a night in jail for failure to pay child support.

In the same month, he was convicted of tax evasion.

AKRON, Ohio -- A South Euclid man who became the first person in Summit County to be found guilty of tampering with evidence for refusing to take a Breathalyzer test was sentenced to three years in prison in Summit County Court.

Summit County Common Pleas Court Judge Judith Hunter sentenced Vitaly Simin, 36, on the tampering as well as his sixth conviction on drunken driving.

His driver's license was also suspended for 10 years.

Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, author of the law that says drivers cannot refuse to submit to a Breathalyzer test, said the guilty verdict is a victory.

"The law is now clear that drunk drivers cannot refuse to take a breath test," she said in a news release. "It is mandatory, and the jury agreed that Mr. Simin broke that law and deserved prison time. Bottom line: It doesn't pay to refuse to cooperate. It will increase your sentence."

On March 21, 2009, Twinsburg police saw Simin's car swerving and riding the curb line of Interstate 480. When police pulled the car over and spoke with the driver, the officer smelled alcohol on his breath.

Simin failed the field sobriety test, but refused the Breathalyzer test and also refused to give a blood sample at the hospital.

A Cambridge man who holds patents on agents used in Sensodyne toothpaste said state Sen. Anthony Galluccio can brush his teeth all he wants -- it shouldn’t set off any court-issued breathalyzer tests he is required to take.

“Sorbitol is not going to show up,” he said. “The only one that will register is ethyl alcohol. Some physicians or medical doctors don’t know the chemistry.”

KSDK -- St. Louis Cardinals third baseman David Freese had a blood alcohol level nearly three times the legal limit when he was arrested over the weekend on suspicion of driving while intoxicated, according to a recently released police report.

Freese was stopped for a traffic violation at the intersection of Lindbergh and Page in Maryland Heights around 2:40 a.m. Saturday. He was given a field sobriety test and then arrested.

Freese told the officer he drank seven beers and was headed from downtown St. Louis to his Wildwood home.

His blood alcohol was 0.232. The legal driving limit is 0.08.

Freese, a graduate of Lafayette High School, is scheduled to appear in court on February 4, 2010. All Cardinal players are due to report to Spring Training in Jupiter, Florida on February 23.

This is the fourth drunk driving incident involving a member of the Cardinals organization since 2007.  Manager Tony LaRussa was arrested in Jupiter for DUI during Spring Training in 2007, Scott Spiezio was arrested and charged for a drunk driving accident in February 2008 in California.  And relief pitcher Josh Hancock died in April 2007 after slamming his SUV into a tow truck on Interstate 64.

AP - The daughter of Sen. John Kerry has been arrested in Hollywood for allegedly driving drunk.

Los Angeles police say 36-year-old Alexandra Kerry was stopped by officers on a Hollywood street at about 12:40 a.m. Thursday and failed a sobriety test.

Officer Bruce Borihanh says she was booked at the Hollywood police station and was held for about five hours. She was released at about 5:30 a.m. after posting $5,000 bail.

Borihanh didn't immediately have other details.

Alexandra Kerry is the eldest daughter of the Massachusetts senator, the Democrats' 2004 presidential nominee.

She has produced documentaries and has had several small acting roles.

Requests for comment from Alexandra Kerry's agent and John Kerry's office were not immediately returned.

The federal justice minister is considering a new law that would allow police to conduct random breathalyzer tests on drivers, regardless of whether they suspect motorists have been drinking.

Justice Minister Rob Nicholson raised the prospect recently at a meeting of Mothers Against Drunk Driving, according to MADD chief executive Andrew Murie.

If random testing were to be adopted, it would be a major change to Canada's 40-year-old breathalyzer legislation, which stipulates that police may only administer a test if they suspect a driver has been drinking.

In June, a House of Commons parliamentary committee recommended changing the legislation to allow for random testing, arguing it is an effective deterrent.

The change would also bring Canada in line with a number of other countries in Europe and countries like Australia, which have adopted similar measures.

Murie said its biggest selling point is that it improves road safety, with drunk driving fatalities dropping 36 per cent in Australia after legislation was introduced, and 23 per cent in Ireland when it made the change.