At this time of year, a lot of attention is given to campaigns focused on drinking and driving. People in Pennsylvania know that driving a motor vehicle while impaired is not only illegal but very unsafe and irresponsible. However, that does not mean that having a casual glass of wine or beer and then driving home is illegal. Anyone who ends up facing a driving under the influence offense should learn about the potential penalties while they pursue their defense options.
One consequence sometimes handed down to people convicted of DUI offenses is the mandated installation and use of an ignition interlock device. As explained by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, the state does not require that everyone convicted of a DUI offense in the state use an IID. For example, if your drunk driving charge is your first offense and your blood alcohol content level was not considered excessively high, you may not need to use an IID. If, however, the arrest represents your first offense and your BAC level was very high, such as over 0.16%, you may need to use an IID.
Regardless of your BAC, if your recent arrest leads to your second or subsequent charge for a drunk driving offense within 10 years, you may be required to install an IID in your vehicle.
This information is not intended to provide legal advice but is instead meant to give people in Pennsylvania who have been charged with drunk driving offenses an overview of the state’s laws surrounding the use of ignition interlock devices so they glean insight into this potential penalty.
