- Blood Alcohol Content
- Zero Tolerance Laws
- Ignition Interlock Device
- DUI Bond and Booking
- DUI Arraignment
- DUI Trial
- DUI Plea Bargains
- No Contest Plea
- DUI Expungement
Ignition Interlock Device
If a driver is convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI or DWI), in most states the courts have the option to require that driver’s car to be fitted with a breath alcohol ignition interlock device (BAIID or just IID).
Attached under the car’s dashboard and electronically connected to the ignition, this small sensor unit requires that the driver perform a breath test, similar to a breathalyzer, before the car will start and at regular intervals thereafter while the car is moving. It is about the size of a pack of cigarettes. The driver blows into the device for a few seconds and it measures against predetermined breath-alcohol limits (usually .02 to .04 percent).
These devices have a high rate of reliability and are tamper-resistant. The breath tests required while the car is rolling prevent someone else from starting the car and then letting the intoxicated driver behind the wheel. If the breath test is not completed or the breath sample exceeds the limits, first the device warns the driver and then sets off the horn and lights until the car is stopped. The car is not disabled while rolling, which was a popular urban legend; this would be extremely dangerous. Distracting at best, the system seems to work well.
The costs of installation, lease payments, and ongoing maintenance every 30 to 60 days (approximately $75 per month, depending on the state) are at the expense of the driver, who has the privilege of continuing to drive after conviction of DUI instead of license suspension. At maintenance inspections the device provides a log and notes any violations. These devices are approved and maintained by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The interlock device is most often part of a repeat offender’s sentencing, but Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has launched a campaign to require BAIIDs for all first-time offenders as well. The courts determine the length of time the device is necessary, or if it should be a permanent requirement for the driver.