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Ignition Interlock Devices

Arizona law mandates that drivers of motor vehicles use of an ignition interlock device (IID) when they are allowed to resume driving following a suspension or revocation of their driver’s license due to an arrest and conviction on the charge of driving under the influence (DUI).

An IID prevents a person from operating a motor vehicle under the influence following a DUI conviction and driver’s license suspension. This device must be installed by a company authorized by the Arizona Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) and proof of the installation is required.

DUI and the aftermath are not something you should navigate without legal representation like an experienced Arizona DUI lawyer like the Law Offices of Craig W. Penrod, P.C.

The IID requirement is applied after and arrest and conviction for a DUI. For a first DUI offense you are faced with a sentence in excess of one year, but it may be reduced to six months if you refrain from tampering with the IID. If your DUI arrest and conviction is based upon a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.15 percent you face a one year sentence. And, if your BAC exceeds 0.20 percent your sentence could be 18 months.

Many people choose to avoid driving at all following a DUI arrest and conviction. But, if and when they decide to drive there are several types of devices. An IID is required if you are arrested and convicted for a second DUI offense within seven years of the first arrest and conviction. An IID monitors the driving habits of a person who has had their driving privileges suspended.

An IID is a device slightly larger than a cell phone and is wired to the vehicle’s ignition through the vehicle’s dashboard. Before the vehicle can be started, the driver is required to exhale into the device. If the IID detects any alcohol on the driver’s breath, the engine will not start. At random times after the engine has been started, the device will require the driver to provide another breath sample. Should the breath sample not be provided, or if the sample exceeds a pre-programmed blood alcohol concentration (BAC), the event will be logged and the driver will be warned using an alarm that will continue until either the vehicle’s ignition is turned off or a breath sample without any alcohol has been provided. For safety reasons, the device cannot turn off the car ignition once it has been started.If a failure is recorded the monitoring company is obligated to inform MVD of the infringement.

It is the responsibility of MVD to oversee the use of IIDs. MVD uses special forms and procedures to monitor IID usage. Law enforcement officers should be aware of the IID requirement if you are stopped.

With all of the potential repercussions of a driver’s license suspension, plus an arrest and a conviction for DUI, it is vital that your legal situation should be handled by expert professionals with the experience possessed by the attorneys at the Law Offices of Craig W. Penrod, P.C.