If you are someone who was recently charged with a DWI, you are looking at a wide array of penalties, including potential jail time, high fines, and more. In many cases, you will also have to install the ignition interlock device in your vehicle. Rather obviously, this device can be both humiliating and cumbersome, which is why our Monmouth County criminal defense attorney is here to do everything in our power to fight your charges. Read on and reach out to our firm to learn more about the ignition interlock device and what installing one may mean for you. Here are some of the questions you may have:
What does the ignition interlock device do?
If you are required to use an ignition interlock device after being convicted of a DWI, you must first have the device installed on the steering column of your vehicle, at your own cost. You must blow a BAC of .05% or lower every time you wish to start your car. If you blow higher, your car will not start. From here, on your way to your destination, you will be required, at random, to blow into the device to ensure that you are still under the legal limit. If you do not provide a breath sample quickly enough, an alarm will go off and you will have to pull over your vehicle.
How do I know if I will have to install the ignition interlock device in my vehicle?
All drivers who are convicted of a first-offense DWI with a BAC of less than .15% will have to install and use an ignition interlock device for anywhere between three and twelve months. For a first-offense DWI with a BAC higher than .15%, you will have to install the ignition interlock device for anywhere between nine and fifteen months. You should also note that if you refuse to submit to chemical testing, you will also have to install and use the device for up to fifteen months.
For a second or third DWI, you will most likely have to install the device both during your license suspension and up to four years after your license is reinstated. If you were ordered to install the device and you are stopped by law enforcement and do not have the device installed, you may face an additional year-long license suspension. Finally, if the device shows you attempted to start the vehicle with a BAC of .08% or higher in the last 30 days, you will most likely face an extended term with the device in your vehicle. As long as you receive a certification to MVC from the interlock provider that you complied with maintenance and did not have a violation in the last 30 days, the ignition interlock device should be removed from your vehicle.