DUI Penalties: Alcohol Tethers
Posted on Apr 21, 2014 3:29pm PDT
Alcohol tethers are also known as SCRAM bracelets. They are tools that are used to monitor a person's alcohol use after he or she is convicted of a DUI. Some states will use alcohol tethers as a way to punish multiple DUI offenders and make sure that they don't continue in their path. These bracelets can detect the presence of alcohol in a person's sweat by the hour. They are fastened to a defendant's wrist, and act as a 24/7 monitor on that individual's alcohol use. The bracelets are digital, and can record any incidents where the wearer has a BAC above the legal limit.
At regional monitoring centers, individuals can access the alcohol the reports. In many situations, a DUI offender is required to pay for his or her own alcohol tether. Offenders who are placed on house arrest may be required to wear one of these bracelets, as well as people that are on probation. Individuals that are currently in an alcohol treatment or rehabilitation center may also be expected to wear an alcohol tether. This bracelet can guarantee that an offender is abstaining from alcohol and help him or her to develop good habits in connection with alcohol.
If authorities discover that an offender has been drinking while wearing an alcohol tether, it could result in jail time. This is because drinking alcohol may be a violation of the offender's parole or probation. Oftentimes, probation violations are penalized by reinstatement of an initial penalty which may include spending several months or years behind bars, depending on the severity of the offense. In some cases, alcohol tethers can work to an offenders benefit. He or she may be allowed to leave the home to go to school or work even though he or she is currently on house arrest.
DUI offenders can get the alcohol tether removed by the authorities once they complete their probation or satisfy the requirements after their DUI. In some cases, individuals may be required to wear an alcohol tether all throughout their trial, and then authorities have the choice to continue with post-conviction monitoring or take the bracelet off.
If you want more information about alcohol tethers, or if you are required to wear an alcohol tether in court, don't hesitate to call a local attorney. A skilled lawyer near you may be able to challenge the requirement to wear an alcohol tether or help you to avoid severe penalties associated with drinking while wearing an alcohol tether.