The Iowa House has approved a bill that would change the penalties for drivers who are arrested for operating while intoxicated, but one local lawmaker isn’t sure it’s worth the cost.

“The interlocks themselves will cost upwards of $700 for every vehicle they’re installed on for a person who is barred and has an intent to drive.  I’m not suggesting, by any means, that we should allow people to drive while intoxicated but I’ve never seen any device yet that can’t be compromised in one way or another” says Watts.

That’s District 19 State Representative Ralph Watts of Adel who is one of five representatives who voted against the bill.

“We may have good intentions of doing this but we may have just raised the cost and created another problem for us in the long term.  I hope it works out, we’ll see.”

Representative Clel Baudler of Greenfield who represents Guthrie County and part of Dallas County, including Perry, also voted against the bill.