Facing the aftermath of a drunk driving charge can feel cumbersome and overwhelming. While you may not intend to drive after drinking, dealing with an ignition interlock can make using your car frustrating.
Although the ignition interlock system is relatively simple, it can be cumbersome to get used to. It is easy to make a mistake that can have a devastating impact on your previous DWI charge.
These are some of the most common mistakes made with ignition interlock devices (and how you can avoid them).
No more warming up
As fall and winter approach, so does the season when you may typically think about warming up your car. Ignition interlock devices will require more than one sample to keep your vehicle running. You may receive notifications one or more times while you are driving.
If you start your vehicle and leave it to warm up, you may miss a notification that you need to retest. If you forget or fail a test, it will be part of the report from your device.
You may still need a ride in the morning
When you plan to go to a friend’s house to enjoy a few drinks, it may seem like a safe bet to stay overnight and drive home in the morning. However, depending on how much you had to drink and when you enjoyed your last beverage, your ignition interlock could still read your breath as being over the limit to drive.
When you plan on going out with friends, you should plan a safe ride home, especially if you plan to be home by a specific time the next day. Planning ahead for someone to get you home can be much simpler than realizing that you are not ready to drive when you blow into your interlock.
Remember that the limit for ignition interlock devices is typically lower than the legal limit, so it will likely take longer after a night of drinking to be able to drive.
Before you start driving with your ignition interlock device, it is essential to get familiar with how it works and the consequences of missing or failing a test.