The use of ignition interlock devices as a weapon against drunken driving will be among the issues before the Legislature this year.

The device, which tests a driver's breath and prevents the vehicle from starting if the alcohol level is too high — sounds promising.

Forty-five other states require convicted drunken drivers to use ignition interlock devices, and evidence suggests that when properly regulated they can be effective.

Adding another weapon against the ravages of drunken driving is a worthy idea, especially considering the number of drunken driving citations on O'ahu last year — 3,622 — and the number of alcoholrelated deaths: 23.

But ignition interlock devices alone won't solve the problem. Given the cost of the device — more than $70 per month, plus installation costs — and the inconvenience of using it, the punishment may not fit the circumstances, especially if it's a truly remorseful first-time offender facing a shorter license suspension.

But for repeat offenders, the situation is different. A 2004 study by the state of California concluded that ignition interlock devices are an effective incentive for those who face longer suspensions and severe disruptions of their work and family life.

Being able to drive legally using an ignition interlock device is preferable to the alternatives. For these drivers, the device should be mandatory, along with treatment and other efforts to curb this destructive behavior. In these cases, ignition interlock devices should be used, judiciously.