If you have been convicted of DUI in California, you may be so thrilled to have your license back that you don’t mind the hassle of dealing with an interlock ignition device (IID) in your vehicle. This could be required for first-time offenders, and while you may be overjoyed to be driving again, it is critical to understand that if you want to keep your license, you will need to be educated about this device that can be complicated in some regards—and user error could land you in hot water with the DMV.
After one or more DUIs, the court most likely recommends and expects that you will be sober, and especially if you intend to drive. The IID monitors such behavior closely in connection with driving, simply because you cannot start your car if there is any alcohol in your blood whatsoever. This means you cannot have a glass of wine at dinner and then drive, you cannot have a sip of beer and then drive, and you may have trouble starting your car in the morning while enduring that hangover—with alcohol still registering in your blood (and consequently, your breath).
What about when you are positive that your interlock device has given you a false reading though? You may know beyond a shadow of a doubt there is no alcohol in your system, and there are many factors that could cause a false reading—from that mouthwash you gargled after you brushed your teeth, to the soda you were drinking before you got in the car, to other issues such as a lack of calibration for the IID, or other car maintenance issues.
Even a fraction of a percentage of alcohol in your blood could cause you to get locked out from starting your car. If you start having false readings consistently, obviously there is something wrong with the device and it must be replaced as soon as possible.
If you have been arrested due to a DUI matter, please call the Dolan Law Offices now. We will listen carefully to your concerns, review your case, and offer advice based on many years of experience. John Patrick Dolan understands California’s complex criminal defense laws and our office will provide the experience you need to help you fight for your rights and best interests. Call us at (760) 775-3739 or contact us online as soon as possible.