| Many different penalties exist for drivers who have | | | | intervals, to prevent someone else from offering the |
| been convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol | | | | breath sample. |
| drugs or driving while intoxicated. Some states choose | | | | If you do not pass the test, an alarm will sound, such |
| to use different penalties, based on the circumstances, | | | | as your horn honking or a siren sounding, depending on |
| and others have specific penalties that are used for | | | | the device. It will not turn off until you have turned the |
| specific offenses, such as monetary fines based on | | | | vehicle off, giving you time to pull over in a safe place. |
| first offense, second offense, and so on. However, | | | | You just have to listen to the alarm sounding until you |
| many states are now requiring the addition of an | | | | can safely get off of the road, and everyone around |
| ignition interlock device (IID) when the driver is allowed | | | | you can hear the same alarm. |
| to reinstate his/her driver's license. | | | | Some people have attempted to circumvent the |
| The majority of states do not allow driving-even | | | | machine by removing it or tampering with it, but this |
| restricted driving to/from work or school-for a | | | | can add time to a jail term, or cause you to have to |
| predetermined time period following a DUI/DWI. This | | | | serve a suspended sentence. You could also face |
| time period can range from a few months to several | | | | additional fines and/or penalties for this type of |
| years, or even a lifetime in severe cases. It depends | | | | behavior. It is better to cooperate with the punishment, |
| on your unique criminal background, any prior history of | | | | and seek alternative methods of appeal through a |
| DUI/DWI convictions, and any aggravating factors. | | | | lawyer if you believe that the punishment was not |
| These can include speeding excessively, causing | | | | earned for whatever reason. |
| extensive injuries or fatalities, doing a lot of property | | | | Machines like this have been added to the penalty |
| damage, having an extremely elevated BAC (blood | | | | phase of a DUI conviction in order to discourage |
| alcohol content), refusing to cooperate with sobriety | | | | repeat offenses. Many states use the IID as even a |
| tests, running from law enforcement, and similar | | | | first offense penalty, and more states each year are |
| behavior. | | | | seeing the effectiveness of the device and opt to add |
| An ignition interlock device is a relatively new addition | | | | it to existing penalties via legislature, to reduce the |
| to the penalty lineup, and is not used in every state. If | | | | number of alcohol-related accidents and deaths in the |
| you are convicted of DUI/DWI in a state that uses an | | | | United States. If you have been arrested for DUI, it is |
| IID as a penalty, you will likely have to have one | | | | critical to get help from an experienced lawyer right |
| installed at your own expense, but this restriction is | | | | away to discuss the possible penalties in your case, |
| often preferable to having no driver's license or driving | | | | and begin building an effective defense. |
| privileges at all. The machine works by requiring the | | | | This information is provided solely for informational |
| driver to breathe into it at random points, to start the | | | | purposes and does not constitute legal advice. |
| vehicle, and while the motor is running, at frequent | | | | |