MAHONING COUNTY, Ohio - Some Ohio legislators and Mothers Against Drunk Driving are pushing for Ohio to join a list of 28 states that have now enacted "Annie's Law" in the fight against drunk driving.

Annie's Law is dedicated to Annie Rooney of Cincinnati, who was struck and killed by a drunk driver on July 4, 2013.  The key component of Annie's Law requires ignition interlocks for all drunk driving offenders, even first offenders who seek driving privileges.  

A study by MADD says lives are being saved in states that have enacted Annie's Law.

"States like West Virginia, they've seen a 40 percent reduction in drunk driving deaths since they enacted an all offender interlock law," said Frank Harris, Director of State Government Affairs for MADD. 

The interlock device is installed in a vehicle and requires the offender to pass a breath test before the vehicle will start. UPI in Boardman supplies and installs interlock units.

Company President Nick Doinoff says drivers also must pass random rolling tests while driving.

"You basically just pick the unit up, take the breath test and continue to drive," Doinoff said. "If the driver fails a rolling test they have five minutes to stop the vehicle. If you don't stop, your horn will start to honk and your lights will flash at the same time until you shut the vehicle off."

Tampering with or trying to defeat the device is a felony criminal charge. The MADD study says the interlock law has stopped more than 1.7 million attempts to drive drunk.  

A version of Annie's Law has passed the Ohio house. It would allow first time offenders to avoid jail time and seek unlimited driving privileges, if the driver agrees to use an interlock device during the license suspension.

State Senator Joe Schiavoni believes it's a good first step.

"It's an incentive for the use of these devices without immediately mandating for every single offender, but still gives the court the discretion of whether or not that judge wants to implement these devices," Schiavoni said.

Everyone acknowledges there is a cost factor to the all offender interlock law. There is a one time fee of $70 to $150 for installation. Then $60 to $90 monthly for monitoring, maintenance and calibration of the device.

It's out of reach for someone who is poor, so some states have created a indigent fund.

"If there is a funding stream for indigents I think we need to discuss that before passing any sort of legislation," Senator Schiavoni said.

House Bill 388 could be voted on in the Ohio Senate this fall, and MADD feels it's time for Ohio to act.

According to Harris, "Ohio is falling behind the times on how to utilize ignition interlocks," .