| Ignition interlock mechanisms were invented as a | | | | the car, and explaining it to your date could put a |
| preventative step to keep DUI offenders from driving | | | | damper on your relationship. |
| drunk in the future. For a second or third DUI conviction, | | | | Professional Consequences |
| one of the penalties that the court orders may be the | | | | If you have a job that involves driving and you are |
| installation of an ignition interlock device in your vehicle. | | | | convicted of a DUI, you could be fired. Many |
| The purpose of this mechanism is to prevent a DUI | | | | employers will not allow employees with DUIs to |
| offender from operating his or her car while drunk. | | | | operate vehicles such as company cars, taxis, or |
| Each time you start your car, you must first breathe | | | | delivery trucks. Employees with a commercial driver's |
| into the device, which will determine your blood alcohol | | | | license who are arrested for a DUI will have their |
| content (BAC). If your BAC is above the programmed | | | | commercial license suspended and will likely lose their |
| limit, usually between .02 and .04, your car will not start. | | | | job. Having a DUI on your record and an ignition |
| While you are driving you will again be asked to exhale | | | | interlock device in your car could therefore limit your |
| into the device at random intervals to check your | | | | current and future employment opportunities. |
| BAC. If the device records your BAC as over the limit | | | | To avoid having to deal with the inconvenience of an |
| or you fail to breathe into it when it requests a sample, | | | | ignition interlock device, the simplest solution is to avoid |
| a loud alarm will sound until the vehicle is turned off or | | | | driving drunk altogether. If, however, you are arrested |
| the sample is provided. | | | | for a DUI, consider contacting a DUI defense lawyer |
| The Limitations of Ignition Interlock | | | | immediately to help you prepare your defense for |
| Having an ignition interlock device in your car can be | | | | court. |
| distracting, inconvenient, and embarrassing. You may | | | | |
| be driving in heavy traffic and have your concentration | | | | For More Information |
| interrupted when the mechanism requests a sample. If | | | | To learn more about DUI penalties and defending |
| you cannot provide the sample in time the alarm will | | | | against DUI charges, please visit the website of |
| sound, which could startle you and increase your risk | | | | experienced Rhode Island DUI defense attorney |
| of having an accident. Family or friends may be | | | | James Powderly today. |
| uncomfortable riding with you with an ignition interlock in | | | | |