If you are convicted of a DUI in California, or in many cases if you reach a plea deal with the courts after being charged with a DUI or DUID, then there is a likely chance that you will be required to install an Ignition Interlock Device in your vehicle for a period of time after your license is reinstated. Additionally, you will be required to use an IID for any amount of time that you are using a restricted license in order to get to and from work, educational obligations, or medical appointments.
On this page, we will explain these devices in greater detail, and go through a series of situations where you may find yourself using one of these devices each time you start your vehicle. While it may be embarrassing or inconvenient to need to operate an IID each time you get into your vehicle to start it, the alternative is not having driving privileges at all, which is much worse in nearly all cases.
Read more below about times when you will need to use this device after being arrested and charged with DUI. Contact us now to speak with a Beverly Hills DUI attorney during an initial consultation, where you can learn about how we have helped people in similar situations to your own in the past, as well as how we can help you move forward from your current situation.
What Is an Ignition Interlock Device?
In the state of California, it is very likely that your license will be suspended after being arrested for a DUI, and almost a guarantee that it will be suspended if you are convicted. After a second DUI, and in some cases after a first DUI, you will be required to install something known as an ignition interlock device in your vehicle for a certain length of time.
An ignition interlock device, or IID, is a handheld device that is installed directly into your vehicle that operates like a breathalyzer test. Before you are able to turn your vehicle on, you will need to blow into the mouthpiece. The machine will scan your blood alcohol content by registering any vaporized alcohol on your breath, and will only turn on if the test finds that your BAC is below the pre-determined limit. Some IID units may even have cameras installed with them to make sure that the driver is the one blowing into the unit.
How Much Does an IID Cost?
The cost of installing an IID in your vehicle varies depending on the make and model of your automobile, but they are typically found to cost about $2.50 per day. You will need to cover the installation costs, typically around $100, and will also need to pay to have the unit serviced and maintained through the duration of the time that you must use it. The device needs to be calibrated and checked routinely to ensure that it is still registering BAC accurately.
When Is a Driver Required To Use an Ignition Interlock Device in California?
Typically, drivers are not automatically required to install an IID in their vehicle after they are convicted of a first DUI. However, it may be beneficial to install an IID to regain a driver’s license without any restrictions on where the driver could drive. A driver whose license is suspended due to a first DUI conviction has three options. First, the driver may avoid the need to install an IID if instead, they opt for a one-year-long restricted license, which would only permit the driver to drive between their home, work, school and medical appointments. However, a person convicted of a first DUI could get their license back, without restriction, if they opt to install an IID for six months. The third option is to not operate any motor vehicles for one entire year.
If you are convicted of a second (or subsequent) DUI, then you may also have the option to apply for a restricted license and will need to install an IID through this time as well.
For each DUI conviction after the first, the judge in your DUI case will make you use an IID once your license is reinstated. The judge will determine the amount of time that you will need to use this device, and it is likely that the amount of time that you will need to use it will take into account a variety of circumstances surrounding your arrest and your criminal history.
Contact Us Today To Work With a California DUI Attorney
The process of working through a DUI charge is complicated, and the California courts are notoriously harsh on people who were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. It is for this reason that it is in your best interest to partner with an experienced attorney to help you navigate this complex process in a way that will increase your chances of a positive or favorable outcome. Contact us now to schedule an initial consultation, and we will be able to begin your defense soon.
