Do I Need A Breathalyzer In My Car After A DUI?

Repeat drunk drivers or drivers that were found driving with an excessive amount of alcohol in their blood in Colorado, such as .149, are eligible to have an ignition interlock device installed in their vehicles.

Motorists that drive after a driver’s license suspension for a DUI offence in the past, can have an ignition interlock device installed on their vehicles. This can also occur at the time of the arrest.

Regardless of what type of DUI offences you face, drivers will bear the installation expense and its maintenance. This device will measure the alcohol content levels in your system when you start the car and will shut down the ignition if the results are beyond the predetermined limit.

Defence against a DUI charge in Colorado isn’t easy, especially for repeat offenders. However, having a DUI lawyer by your side can help you enter certain plea deals to obtain lesser sentences. You may be able to avoid certain penalties, such as having the breathalyzer.

Ignition Interlock Devices

The ignition interlock devices will continue to send regular reports to the Department of Motor Vehicles about your behaviour. If, in these reports, it is determined that you regularly tried to start your car while intoxicated, your period of driving with these devices will be extended.

The costs associated with installing an ignition interlock device on your vehicle can be anywhere between $800 to $1,000 per year. You must purchase these devices from approved providers and keep them installed until authorities inform you that you can remove them.

These devices need to be installed in all of your vehicles, which includes vehicles that you co-own, or are allowed to operate. Not everyone is required to wear an ignition interlock device after their DUI conviction. In Colorado, you may face this penalty if:

• It is your first DUI conviction, and your BAC levels were .15 or higher. In this case, you may need to install the interlock device for two years.
• You face a second DUI conviction within a period of five years. In this situation, having the device for two years is mandatory.
• In a third DUI conviction, you will also be required to install and maintain the interlock device for two years.
• If you were convicted of refusing to submit to an alcohol test for a DUI, you may have the device installed in your car for two years.

Failure to Install the Device

If you fail to install the interlock device on your vehicle, you will be punished with a harsh penalty. If you attempt to drive your car without this device, you may lose your driver’s license for a year. A licensed professional will examine your interlock device once every two months, and if the examination does not occur due to your fault, it can also lead to the suspension of your driver’s license.

The last thing you should do is temper with the device or attempt to circumvent the technology. It is illegal. Such violations can result in license revocations. The decisions related to interlocking devices, including eligibility and reinstatement, fall under Colorado’s Department of Motor Vehicles jurisdiction.

However, before you reach this stage, what happens during your case is essential. You may be able to avoid these penalties with a competent DUI lawyer by your side. Contact a DUI attorney as soon as possible when dealing with DUI charges.