Tag Archives: Ignition Interlock Device

As of July 1, 2022, when a judge determines the amount and conditions of bail to be imposed upon a defendant who has been charged with driving under the influence of an intoxicant (DUI), or a related offense, the court shall require the defendant to operate only a motor vehicle equipped with a functioning ignition interlock device if: (i) The offense resulted in a collision involving property damage; (ii) A minor was present in the vehicle at the time of ... Read More »

IID stands for ignition interlock device and is defined as a handheld breath-alcohol monitoring device that is electronically connected to your vehicle’s ignition. Before starting your vehicle, the IID requires you to take and pass a breath test. If the device detects alcohol, the vehicle will not start. It also requires you to take re-tests while you are operating the vehicle. In Pennsylvania, IID’s are currently required for those who plead guilty or are convicted of a second or subsequent ... Read More »

In August 2013, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Chief David Strickland wrote to the CEO’s of major automakers and urged them to continue supporting research and development of in-vehicle alcohol detection systems.  In 2008, research funded by automakers and the federal government began an effort to develop in-vehicle technologies that would prevent intoxicated drivers from starting and driving a car.  Although the Ignition Interlock Devices that are currently used accomplish this same goal, this new technology would differ significantly. Ignition ... Read More »

As noted by James Nesci, another contributor to this blog (See his post of May 14, 2013), in May 2013, the National Transportation Safety Board (“NTSB”) met to consider reducing the legal blood alcohol limit to drive.  As reported by USA Today, CNN, and many other news organizations, the principal NTSB recommendation focused on reducing the per se legal blood-alcohol content limit while driving from .08% to .05%. How many drinks does a person need to consume in order to ... Read More »

Maine is the newest state to propose a bill that would allow first time and habitual DUI offenders to cut down on their license suspensions by having a breathalyzer installed in their vehicles. The breathalyzer, also known as the ignition interlock device (IID), is a device wired to a vehicle’s ignition that requires a breath sample from the driver before the engine will start. A photo of the driver is taken while the sample is being given and transmitted to ... Read More »

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were more than 10,000 DUI-related fatalities in 2010.  NHTSA also reports that DUI-related traffic crashes cost an estimated $37 billion annually.  And although many of us are likely familiar with these statistics, they attest to the truth of the matter: the social consequences of drunk driving are severe. In response, Mothers Against Drunk Driving tirelessly seeks to reciprocate by lobbying for equally severe consequences for DUI offenders.  And partly due to ... Read More »

I have heard from a source close to the matter that the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences is about to approve another ignition interlock device for persons convicted of DUI in Alabama.  Since September 2012, Alabama’s DUI law began requiring ignition interlock installation for all multiple DUI offenders and even on some first time offenders.  The Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences was given responsibility for drafting regulations for ignition interlock installers and for maintaining a list of approved ignition interlock ... Read More »

by Phillip B. Price, Sr. Alabama’s new DUI ignition interlock law went into effect at the beginning of September.  However, the regulatory scheme and infrastructure needed for the law to be fully operational and adequately administered is far from complete.  While the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences recently put forth its regulations related to the new law, the Alabama Department of Public Safety appears less prepared.  At present there are only a half dozen interlock installation facilities in Alabama and ... Read More »

This July, Virginia will require everyone convicted of DUI to install an ignition interlock device if they want a restricted license.  Judges differ whether the July 1st date applies to all those convicted after June 30th or those arrested after June 30th and subsequently convicted. The Washington Post estimates that the new law will cause 18,000 people per year to spend about $500 for a six month installation.[1]  The Post also estimates a 400% increase in the amount of people needing installation.  In some areas of ... Read More »

Massachusetts’s lawmakers are currently considering and will likely pass a bill that would require first offenders to install an ignition interlock device (IID) in their vehicles. The law currently requires the device after a second or subsequent conviction. By taking this action, Massachusetts would join a minority of states that mandate an IID for anyone convicted of OUI.  This device would cause the cost of admitting to a first offense to rise by nearly $700.00 and would by its passing make fighting the case ... Read More »