Ignition Interlock Devices Now Required for ALL DUI Offenders in Connecticut
As of July, 2015, the State of Connecticut is requiring Ignition Interlock Devices (IIDs) for ALL individuals convicted of Driving while Under the Influence (DUI, or DWI.) Previously, Ignition Interlock Devices were not mandated after a first offense.
With an Ignition Interlock Device, the driver must blow into the device before s/he can start the car. The device also requires random samples for the duration of time the car is operating. If the device registers a BAC (Blood alcohol content) of 0.25 or greater, the vehicle will not start.
Connecticut considers a BAC of 0.08 driving under the influence. This level dips to 0.04 for Commercial Drivers, and to 0.02 for drivers under 21 years of age. If you refuse to take the test, your license will be immediately suspended, and you will receive a fine. (Connecticut is an "implied consent" state. which means the fact you are behind the wheel means you have consented to be tested if an officer suspects you are under the influence.) In other words, the officer willl confiscate your license on the spot. If you hold a CDL (Commercial Drivers License) and you refuse, your CDL will be revoked. Connecticut also allows prosecution for DUI even if you have refused to take the tests. If you are convicted, you will still be required to install the Ignition Interlock Device once your suspension is lifted.
In Connecticut, both refusal to take the test and DUI convictions result in your license being suspended. After 3 DUI convictions, your license is permanently revoked.
In addition to paying for installation and maintenance of the IID, as well as a $100 fee. The $100 fee goes to DMV to cover the costs of administering the program. If you fail to comply with IID restrictions, you will be subject to additional fines and criminal charges. Asking another person to blow into your IID is a class 3 misdemeanor. Connecticut also may impose these restrictions on a driver licensed in Connecticut who gets a DUI in another State.
The device itself costs around $75-150 to install. Ongoing costs total about $3 per day. This averages out to about $100 per month for the duration of the restriction. Anyone who drives your vehicle (spouse, friend, child, etc.) will have to "blow clean" to start the car. Using an alcohol-based mouthwash or breath spray prior to trying to start the car can cause you to fail the test.
There is no way around these restrictions. If you get a DUI, either in Connecticut or in another State, and you hold a Connecticut Drivers License, you WILL need to install an Ignition Interlock Device. The best way to ensure you will NOT have to use an Ignition Interlock Device is not to drink and drive.
