When Do Courts Impose Ignition Interlock Systems

Driving under the influence of either alcohol or drugs is deemed illegal is many if not all of the state in the US. While the penalties and punishments in every state differ in harshness and stiffness, having a blood alcohol concentration of .08 or higher while you’re driving can have serious negative effects on your life.

 

 

Part of the penalties for DUI that might be imposed is the ignition interlock system being installed on your vehicle. This device is a about the size of a cellular phone that’s installed into the steering column of the car. It tests your breath in that a sample is taken of your breath before your car’s ignition is turned on. Any result that goes over .30 will not get your car started. The length of time that the ignition interlock device is installed on your car is determined on a case to case basis.

 

 

Together with DUI laws in the state of California, we have the implied consent statute. When you’re pulled over for suspicion of driving under the influence and you refuse to give a breath sample, blood sample or urine sample to determine the exact figure for blood alcohol concentration, the ignition interlock device may be installed in your vehicle. In cases where the offender is found to be a repeat offender, the ignition interlock device is also installed on the vehicles of these offenders. For the state of California, the driver who is convicted of a second offense must install the ignition interlock device on his vehicle after he serves the first year of the license suspension penalty.

 

 

The DMV can also grant you a restricted license wherein the ignition interlock device will also be required together with a filing for the SR22. This also occurs on the third offense in the state of California. Upon conviction, the court will give you a list of providers to get the ignition interlock installed. The providers on this list have been approved by the state and the one you choose would be the provider for both the maintenance and calibration that’s required with the ignition interlock device. It is part of the penalty that the offender has to shoulder the expenses for getting an ignition interlock device installed.

 

 

Putting together all the costs with regard to installation, calibration and even the scheduled maintenance will amount to a price around a couple hundred dollars.