If you have been charged with a DUI or a similar drunk driving offense, then the court may require an ignition interlock device to be installed in your car. The ignition interlock device requires you to perform a breathalyser test before it allows your car to start. If your results are over the device’s programmed limit, then your car will not start. The vehicle will start if it is below the programmed limit.
Why Might an Ignition Interlock Device Be Installed In My Car?
If you are a repeat DUI offender or if your first DUI results in an injury, then the court may require you to install an ignition interlock device in your car. An ignition interlock device will only be used for cases involving drugs and alcohol or just alcohol use. You will not be required to install an ignition interlock device if you drove under the influence of drugs only.
The courts have a lot of discretion when ordering the installation of an ignition interlock device. In some instances, they may use ignition interlock devices in the place of a license suspension for defendants who need to use their car to travel to and from employment and treatment programs for their substance abuse.
Ignition Interlock Device Violations
If you use the ignition interlock device improperly or try to tamper with it or remove it, this is a violation. The ignition interlock devices record these violations, and the monitoring agency will be aware of the tampering.
Using the Ignition Interlock Device Incorrectly
You have the burden of learning how to use your ignition interlock device correctly and avoid penalties. It is designed to be easy to use and to not malfunction in order to properly protect you and others on the roads.
Ignoring the Ignition Interlock Device Random Retests
Your ignition interlock device will request random retests sometimes while you are driving. It gives you enough time to find a safe place to pull over in order to take the retest. This is to ensure you are not asking someone else to take the breathalyzer in order to start your car or drinking while you drive. Failing an ignition interlock device retest could have a number of consequences. You may have to take another retest to ensure the results are accurate, or you may be locked out for a period of time. If you pass the ignition interlock device retest, then you will be able to keep on driving.
If you ignore the ignition interlock device random retest alert, then it will count as a violation and be recorded with your monitoring agency.
Disconnecting the Ignition Interlock Device
The only circumstances that allow you to remove or disconnect the ignition interlock device are with prior approval in order to avoid the device becoming damaged in severe weather conditions. Without prior approval, disconnecting the ignition interlock device will carry severe penalties. Your license may be suspended instead of allowing you to drive with the ignition interlock device.
Tampering With the Ignition Interlock Device
Tampering with an ignition interlock device will most likely cause the device to initiate a temporary lockout. The tampering will also be recorded in the device and sent to your monitoring agency. Your monitoring agency will look at the type of tampering and the results you were trying to achieve when deciding on your penalty. It may result in fines and jail time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Ignition Interlock Devices
Can You Drink With an Ignition Interlock Device In Your Car?
The easy answer is yes. You can drink with the ignition interlock device in your car and take a rideshare, taxi, public transport and get a lift. You can even drink with the ignition interlock device in your car and drive as long as your BAC stays below the device’s limit. However, it can be difficult to accurately predict your BAC level while enjoying a drink or two. The effect of alcohol on the body varies between people and even vary depending on the day. Having one drink may not cause one person to have a BAC over the legal limit, whereas it may cause another person to. You may not feel affected by alcohol yet have a high BAC.
BAC or Blood Alcohol Concentration is a way of measuring how much excess alcohol is in your body. When your liver is busy breaking down the amount of alcohol it can handle, any additional alcohol you drink is distributed back into muscles, tissue, and bloodstream. It acts as a queue for your liver to deal with later. The higher your BAC, the longer it will take for your liver to process the alcohol and lower your BAC. Therefore, it is difficult to tell how many drinks will raise your BAC above the ignition interlock device’s limits and how long it will take for your BAC to reduce to more acceptable levels.
How Can I Get Around the Ignition Interlock Device?
There may be ways to get around the ignition interlock device, but you only have your license on the condition that you use the ignition interlock device. You have already had one DUI charge, and the ignition interlock device allows you to retain driving privileges while ensuring you do not commit another DUI. If you do drive while drunk or find a way around the ignition interlock device, you may face penalties, lose your driving privileges, or even face jail time. Remember, this ignition interlock device is usually agreed upon in lieu of harsher penalties.
The ignition interlock device may seem like an inconvenience, but it is to protect you from jail time or losing your license altogether. You will just have to grin and bear it, remember it is just a temporary measure.