LANSING - Drunken drivers with a blood-alcohol level of nearly twice the legal limit may find a new device attached to their vehicles' ignition system to help prevent further violations.

A pending House bill would require anyone convicted of driving with a blood-alcohol level over 0.15 to use an interlock device that measures their alcohol level before their vehicle can start.

The legal limit in Michigan is 0.08.

There were more alcohol and drug-related traffic deaths in 2006 than the previous year - the first increase in six years, according to the state Office of Highway Safety Planning.

There were 408 alcohol or drug-related deaths in 2005 and 440 in 2006, an increase of 8 percent.

Rep. Fred Miller, D-Mount Clemens, said he decided to support the bill after hearing the story of a woman in his district.

"I remember how powerful her story was and how she lost her daughter to a drunk driver," he said. "The laws weren't in place, the guy was out of jail and her life was destroyed."

Naeyaert said Rep. Paul Condino, D-Southfield, is likely to introduce further legislation soon.

That bill would also require such devices for repeat offenders, regardless of blood-alcohol level, he said.

Current law gives repeat offenders the option of a suspended license after a one-year suspension if they use an ignition interlock device.

The expense of the devices would fall on the convicted drunken driver. They cost between $2 and $3 a day for installation and operation.

The device works by having the driver blow into a tube when starting the car. If it detects any alcohol, the car won't start, said Gary Naeyaert of the Michigan Ignition Interlock Providers Association, a lobbying group that represents the three state certified interlock installers.

"It's nothing more sophisticated than a Breathalyzer test hard-wired to your car," he said.

Once vehicles are running, the device randomly alerts the drivers to blow in again. If they don't, or if they've been drinking since starting the car, the device will record a failed test and report the results to the Secretary of State's office, Naeyaert added.

"It will randomly test every five to 15 minutes," he said. "If you fail or don't take the test, it's a major violation and you get to go back and talk to the secretary of state."

Not everyone supports the bill, however

Lance Binoniemi, director of government affairs for the Michigan Licensed Beverage Association, said his group favors the concept but believes 0.15 is too low a threshold.

"Unfortunately the legislation that has been introduced is overreaching," he said. "The average drunken driver is at the 0.15 level. We think you are talking extreme drunken driving at 0.20."

Naeyaert disagreed and said a driver at the 0.15 level is dangerous.

"No one can be arguing 0.15 isn't extremely drunk," he said. "They are far more of a hazard and deserve the extra attention."

National beer and liquor lobbying organizations say that an "extreme drunk driver" is at the 0.15 level, he said.