July 1, 2021
An ignition interlock device is essentially a breath testing device that connects to your vehicle, forcing you to pass the test before the car will start.
Pennsylvania law often mandates its usage for those convicted of DUI. At Goldman Law Offices, we use our experience to help drivers navigate this complex situation.
In the past, the ignition interlock device was only required for repeat offenders who had prior offenses in the last 10 years. This meant you did not have to use the device after your first drunk driving conviction. Though you could face many fines and other penalties, you essentially got a pass on the ignition interlock system.
However, Act 33 went into effect in 2017, and it mandates that first-time offenders must use ignition interlock devices if they had a Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.10 or higher. The legal limit remains 0.08, so this could impact a high percentage of those who are over the limit in the first place.
The device sounds like a punishment, but the new law also set up the Ignition Interlock Limited License. By agreeing to use the device, you may be able to have your license reinstated when it otherwise would have been suspended or revoked.
The law also modified state law to require the installation of the device only in your car, not any cars that you own – such as another family car, for instance. This made it less of an issue for other family members who had nothing to do with the case.
A license suspension can interfere with work and many other aspects of your life, and the device can help restore basic driving capabilities even after a DUI conviction.
