Someone who has been convicted of a DUI or DWI might be ordered to install one of these into his or her car. What is this ignition interlock device? It is rather like having a Breathalyzer built into your own dashboard. If someone with this device wants to start the car, he or she will have to breathe into the device first. Then it will measure that person's breath alcohol content (BrAC). The car will not start if the BrAC is too high. This usually means a BrAC of 0.02 or 0.04, but this depends on the state were someone is sentenced.

First time offenders are unlikely to be ordered to install an ignition interlock device, but you could still be given this order is your BAC was insanely over the limit, if someone got hurt, or if you refused to take a chemical test. Remember that refusing these tests could mean automatically losing your driver's license too, whether or not you are convicted. It is rarely a good idea to refuse such a test.

If someone is ordered to install the device, then this means they cannot get their driver's license back unless they have the device in their car. It will usually go into the glove compartment, and then it will be connected to the ignition system for the engine. In order to start the vehicle, you will need to breath into the sensor unit, which you will probably have on your dashboard. The unit will have a set limit for your breath alcohol content, which you cannot go over if you want the car to start. Depending on the model, an ignition interlock device might also ask for a test while you are driving, a "rolling test". If your breath is just over the limit, then an alarm will start to blare, lights could start blinking on your car, and this will go on until your pull over and turn off the car. But do not worry, the device will not turn the car off for you. Such rolling tests are meant to discourage people from having a sober friend blow into the device for them. The results of all tests are recorded so that law enforcement can check on them.

According to the International Council on Alcohol, Drugs, and Traffic Safety (ICADTS), ignition interlock devices contributed to a 40 to 95 percent decrease of repeat DUI convictions. Those are great statistics, but there are many reasons why this device is a penalty, not a common fixture in vehicles. For one thing, there is the cost of installing it, and then maintaining it, all of which has to come out of your own pocket. This can easily cost you hundreds of dollars. And then there is the inconvenience of the device. Sometimes a spritz of breath spray or a dose of cough medicine can be enough for the device to say you went over the BrAC limit.

If you can defend your charges, you can avoid the ignition interlock device. You could also avoid an undeserved conviction, months in jail, thousands of dollars in fines, and the suspension of your driver's license. Do not let the course of your life be altered after a DUI charge. If you work with an experienced and dedicated DUI defense attorney, you may be able to have the rigorous defense that you need and deserve. You will have to act quickly, however, as these charges are highly time sensitive issues. You only have a limited number of days to save your driver's license, and if you have been charged, a prosecutor could already be working on a case to convict you. Do not hesitate to contact a DUI lawyer today!