Being charged with a driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated offense in can be a very upsetting and scary experience. If you are one of the many people in New Jersey who has been arrested for suspected drunk driving, you may have heard about ignition interlock devices and wonder what exactly they are and if you will need to use one.
An IID is a device that is installed into a vehicle requiring a person to first pass a breath test proving they are not drunk before the vehicle’s ignition is allowed to be started. The intention of these devices is to prevent repeat drunk driving offenses. As explained by the State of New Jersey, you might be ordered to install and use an ignition interlock device for as long as three years. On the shorter end, the required duration of use may be six months.
Breath test refusals as well as DUI convictions generally result in the loss of driving privileges for some time. It is after a license suspension has been completed that the requirement to use an IID may begin. Your blood alcohol content and the existence of any previous drunk driving convictions on your record may factor into how long a judge orders the use of the IID.
If you would like to learn more about ignition interlock devices or other penalties that may be associated with different types of DUI charges, please feel free to visit the drunk driving consequences page of our New Jersey criminal and DUI defense website.
