In this section of Total DUI, get answers to these common questions:
- What Is an Ignition Interlock Device?;
- Who Needs Ignition Interlock Devices?;
- How Much Does an Ignition Interlock Device Cost?;
- Can You Bypass an Ignition Interlock?;
- Where Can I Learn More about Ignition Interlock Devices?; and also access our
- Ignition Interlock Articles.
I've heard about ignition interlock devices. What are they?
Simply put, a breath alcohol ignition interlock device is a breathalyzer installed on the dashboard of a vehicle that will prevent operation of a vehicle by an intoxicated or impaired driver. The ignition interlock device requires you to blow into the breath alcohol concentration (BAC) tester before the ignition will turn over and start the vehicle. If this breath test shows your BAC to be above a set limit, usually ranging from 0.02 to 0.04, the starter on your vehicle is locked, and you cannot start your vehicle. Additionally, random tests are performed while the vehicle is in operation.
Almost all states in the United States have provisions mandating the use of ignition interlock devices as a condition of probation or driver's license reinstatement after a DUI conviction, although the specifics differ from state to state. As of the end of 2006, there were more than 100,000 ignition interlocks in use in the United States, and those numbers have risen with new DUI laws just enacted in Arizona and South Carolina and similar proposals being considered in Florida, Ohio, and Illinois.
Do I have to rent an ignition interlock if I've been arrested?
Following a DUI conviction, a state court or motor vehicle department may order you to rent an ignition interlock to use for up to a year. Just like breath tests and other vehicle operation restrictions, legal requirements for an ignition interlock device vary according to state. In some cases, state courts may include ignition interlock as a condition for granting a work license or restricted driver's license. Or, you may be required to rent an ignition interlock in order to maintain or regain driving privileges.
Most states will make ignition interlock a requirement only after multiple DUI convictions. But in some cases, the state will require an interlock upon your first conviction for DUI. If your DUI is a first-time offense, the order for an ignition interlock usually occurs in the face of more severe cases: an excessively-high breath alcohol concentration (BAC) (as low as 0.15 in some states), an injury or death caused while drunk driving, or refusal to take a breath alcohol test administered by a law enforcement officer.
Following a driver's license suspension or revocation due to a DUI conviction, some states require you to hold a restricted license for a period of time before regaining your full driving privileges. A license placed under these restrictions will often require the use of an ignition interlock.
Voluntary use of an interlock is less common, but becoming increasingly more so, especially in corporate and government sectors. Companies with extensive driving fleets and certain school districts will employ ignition interlocks on company-owned trucks or buses for safety reasons. Occasionally, drivers voluntarily install interlock devices for personal reasons, to prevent themselves from experiencing the devastating effects of drunk driving.
How much does an ignition interlock device cost?
Rental for an ignition interlock is typically between $70 and $100 per month plus tax, in addition to installation, which is between $100 and $200. Maintenance and downloading data from the device are generally also at your expense. Under certain conditions, you would be required to return to the renter of the equipment to have records stored on the device downloaded in order to continue driving.
Court orders for DUI convictions usually require you to pay entirely for your ignition interlock, which can be purchased or rented from state-authorized private companies.
Is it easy to bypass an ignition interlock?
No. The makers of ignition interlocks have built these devices to be virtually foolproof. The interlock is programmed to lock your vehicle if you try to use another person or mechanical device to blow for you when you start your car, if you refuse to submit to a test, or if you tamper with the device.
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Some brands of interlocks require the driver to suck in air or make a humming noise while they blow through the breathalyzer, tasks that a machine could not mimic. The random tests while driving make it impossible to have a sober friend do the test for you before you start the car. If you refuse to take one of these random tests, your headlights and taillights will flash and your horn will sound obnoxiously until you pull over to perform the breath test.
If you tamper with the device, it will lock out the ignition and record the incident in its database, to be downloaded by the supplier and turned over to the court or motor vehicle department that ordered you to get the ignition interlock.
Where Can I Find Out More about Ignition Interlock Devices?
Because the court order for ignition interlocks varies from state to state, contacting a local DUI attorney is crucial to know how your case might be affected by these new laws, which are becoming increasingly more popular. To find a DUI attorney near you who has experience dealing with DUI and ignition interlocks, fill out our free DUI case evaluation form or call 1 (877) 349-1311.
Ignition Interlock Articles
- Is 2007 Becoming the Year of the Ignition Interlock Device? (6/15/2007)
- New Arizona DUI Law to Require Ignition Interlock Devices for All DUI Offenders! (5/25/2007)
- Proposed Ohio DUI Laws Would Address State Problems through Different Means! (5/4/2007)
- Proposed Florida DUI Law Could Mean Ignition Interlock Devices for Nearly 24,000 Drivers in the State! (5/4/2007)
- Ignition Interlock Debates "Turning Over" in Proposed Illinois and South Carolina DUI Laws! (3/23/07)