Ignition Interlock Device (IID)

About Los Angeles DUI Penalties

The ignition interlock device (IID) is a device that is often included in penalties for drunk driving in the state of California. This device, which is commonly no bigger than the average cell phone, is installed into a vehicle and wired to the ignition. Once it has been successfully installed, it requires that the driver of the vehicle provides a clean breath sample before starting up the engine – working very similar to the breath tests used by the officers in a DUI arrest. If a clean sample is not given, the vehicle will not start. If the sample is clean, then the engine will start and the car will run as normal.

To avoid any possibly cheating, the IID will also require what is known as "rolling intervals," requiring random samples as the engine is running. This is to prevent a sober friend from breathing into the IID and then a drunk driver taking off or for a driver to start drinking after the engine is running. If a sample is not given at these intervals or if it is given but there is alcohol above the machine's set threshold, an alarm will sound (typically involving noises and / or lights) and the event will be logged. Contrary to popular belief, the engine will not simply shut down if a clean sample is not given as this would be a serious safety hazard.

Ignition Interlock Devices and Restricted Licenses

Per §§14601.2, 14601.4 and 14601.5, the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) may impose an IID restriction on your license; the Court is also allowed to order the use of one. If the DMV orders the IID, you must submit the Department of Motor Vehicles Ordered Verification of Ignition Interlock form or the Exemption for Ignition Interlock Device form within 30 days. If the court ordered the usage of the IID, you must fill out the necessary forms to alert the DMV so that a restriction is placed on your license and law enforcement is alerted to the requirement should you ever be stopped.

If you fail to follow this protocol, the DMV will be alerted and you will have your driving privileged suspended until you comply. According to California law, the installation of an IID is also a common requirement of those convicted of a DUI to quality for a restricted license. To qualify, you must have the IID installed and be able to provide the Verification of Installation form, have cleared other suspensions, complied with all DUI program requirements, have submitted the SR 22 form and paid all required fees.

Why hire a Los Angeles DUI attorney?

If you have been criminally charged with drunk driving, then you are facing serious penalties that include the mandatory installation of the IID on all vehicles – whether partially or solely owned or leased. These are serious penalties that have a serious impact on the rest of your life and they should be treated as such. To ensure that your legal rights are protected to the full extent of the law, do not hesitate to get the involvement of an experienced Los Angeles DUI lawyer from Gold & Witham as soon as possible. Over the years, they have proven themselves to be experts in DUI law and have shown a true capability to help clients protect their legal rights. You can trust that they will go the distance in their efforts to protect you.

To learn what more can be done to help defend you and to learn more about the ignition interlock device, contact Gold & Witham as soon as possible.