Georgia Ignition Interlock
There are many consequences that go along with a DUI (driving under the influence) conviction in Georgia. You will be ordered to spend time in jail, and pay expensive fines. Your license will also be suspended.
In addition to these penalties, the judge may order you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your vehicle. You will be responsible for the costs associated with the installation and maintenance of the device. The monthly rental and maintenance fees typically cost $60.
An ignition interlock is a machine that tests the driver’s breath for alcohol. It consists of a small device that is attached to the vehicle’s dashboard. To use it, the driver blows into the handheld alcohol sensor. If the driver’s BAC (blood alcohol content) is over a certain limit, usually from .02 percent to .04 percent, the car will not start.
Ignition interlock devices that meet the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration’s standards require a rolling test in addition to the initial test. A rolling test, or running retest, is a test that is taken while the vehicle is running. This prevents the driver from having a friend blow into the device to start the car so the impaired driver can take the wheel. If the rolling test is failed, the lights will flash on and off or an alarm will sound until the vehicle is turned off.
The device is equipped with safeguards to keep people from cheating the test. For example, the driver may have to hum while taking the test to prove that the breath sample is human.
An ignition interlock device keeps a record of activity. This record is printed out and downloaded every time the vehicle is taken in for maintenance, often at 30, 60, or 90 days intervals. If the driver has a BAC over the legal limit, or tried to circumvent the test, this will show up on the logs and be reported to the court.
If you have recently been arrested for DUI in Georgia, you need an attorney who is knowledgeable about drunk-driving defense. Gregory A. Willis has been successfully defending clients with cases like yours since 1996. For more information, please fill out our convenient online form right now.