People who are convicted of drunk driving will sometimes be required to use an ignition interlock device as a condition of being able to legally drive. When this occurs, the person’s license receives a special endorsement that lets law enforcement officers know the device is required.
Drivers are only permitted to drive a vehicle that has the device installed, and they must actively use the device as required by the monitoring program. The monitoring program installs the device, calibrates it, maintains it and sends the results of tests to the applicable court representative.
How does an ignition interlock device work?
The ignition interlock requires the driver to provide a breath sample to check for the presence of alcohol. The vehicle won’t start unless the driver provides the sample and that sample is under the set limit, which is usually .02%.
A breath sample is also required periodically while the vehicle is in motion. The driver will get an alert, which means they need to find a safe place to pull over to provide the sample. There is a time limit for this to occur before the testing requirement is considered a fail.
An ignition interlock device is only one possible penalty for a drunk driving conviction. Anyone who’s facing these charges should ensure they understand their defense strategy options so they can start to build that defense. It may be beneficial for them to work with someone familiar with these matters because these cases can become complex.