| [Note: An interlock is a breathalyzer installed on your | | | | suspension period. The new law allows 2nd and 3rd |
| car that you blow into before starting your car and | | | | Offense DWI's to obtain an interlock license after only |
| periodically thereafter. It is supposed to ensure that | | | | 45 days, as opposed to 1 year. There is no change for |
| your BAC is under .02 before allowing your car to | | | | 2nd and 3rd Offense Refusals; they are still prohibited |
| start or continue to run.] | | | | from any sort of relief. Unlike first-offense DWI's, |
| Getting a DWI in Arkansas just got a little bit costlier. | | | | repeat-offense DWI's do not appear to have a |
| Prior to July 31st, if you were charged with a | | | | mandatory interlock requirement. |
| first-offense DWI (under a .15 BAC), then you could | | | | It should be noted that there are many legitimate |
| have a "free" work permit that allowed the accused to | | | | reasons why a person may not want to have an |
| travel to and from work without having an ignition | | | | interlock installed, such as the cost (roughly $150 for |
| interlock device (often referred to as an "interlock") | | | | installation and $60 per month), the embarrassment, the |
| installed on their car. Under the old law, as long as | | | | hassle of having to constantly blow into the interlock |
| there was not a Refusal also charged, then the | | | | while driving, and the real possibility that a mechanical |
| suspension period was 120 days. If you blew over a .15 | | | | error or false positive could lock you out of your car |
| or were chargedwith a Refusal, then the suspension | | | | and leave you or the driver stranded. |
| period was 6 months and you were required to install | | | | So you're considering driving during your suspension |
| an interlock to be able to drive. | | | | period without having an interlock license? Bad idea. |
| Beginning July 31st, the work permit no longer exists | | | | First, if you are caught driving, the crime of Driving on a |
| (except for a first-offense DUI). Also, there is no longer | | | | Suspended License for DWI includes an automatic |
| any legal distinction between a BAC lower than .15 and | | | | 10-day jail sentence. Second, as stated above, the |
| one that was .15 or higher. All first-offense DWI's and | | | | interlock is mandatory, and you will not be able to get |
| or Refusals include a 6 month suspension, and you | | | | your license back until, in addition to other requirements, |
| must have an interlock installed to be able to drive | | | | you have had an interlock installed on your car for 6 |
| during your 6 month suspension period (having an | | | | months. That is, unless you win your case in the |
| interlock license for 6 months is actually a | | | | meantime. In short, unless you win, there is no way |
| MANDATORY requirement for you to be able to get | | | | around having an interlock in your car for 6 months if |
| your license back). | | | | you ever plan on driving legally again. |
| There IS one silver lining for accused drivers (actually, | | | | Luckily, it's not too late if you want to start up your |
| it's more of a "gold lining" for interlock retailers). The old | | | | own interlock retailer to try to recoup some of those |
| law prohibited 2nd and 3rd Offense DWI's from | | | | interlock fees. There shouldn't be any lack of business |
| obtaining any sort of relief (whether a work permit or | | | | thanks to our local lobbyists and legislators. |
| an interlock license) for the entire 1st year of each's | | | | |