| If you have been charged or convicted for a DUI | | | | evidence, and includes all passes, warns and fails. |
| after January 1, 2010, then there are new laws | | | | Because the machines are monitored every |
| that will be implemented by the courts and the | | | | certain period of time, the evidence collected will |
| prosecution beginning January 1, 2010. | | | | be reported to the relevant authorities. This is |
| The standard plea for a first-time DUI offense in | | | | required not only for evidence collection, but also |
| Los Angeles County includes an order from the | | | | to ensure that the IID is calibrated correctly. |
| court to complete a first offender alcohol | | | | These devices also collect data about any |
| program (AB 541), 36 months of summary | | | | attempts of circumvention and tampering. Again, |
| probation and a fine plus penalty assessments | | | | any evidence found will be reported to the |
| that usually totals about $2,000.00. The standard | | | | relevant authorities. Further, there will be penalties |
| first-offender plea agreement only applies to | | | | imposed against those individuals who assist in the |
| those DUI cases that do not involve bodily injury. | | | | tampering or circumvention of the IID device. |
| However, beginning January 1, 2010, the court will | | | | How does the IID affect you? Many people have |
| also impose an order that will include installation of | | | | jobs that require that they drive for a living. For |
| an interlock ignition device (IID) on any vehicle | | | | example, drivers (bus, school, courier service, |
| that the defendant drives. The device will be | | | | ambulance) may lose their job due to this new |
| imposed for a mandatory time of 5 months. | | | | law. Most employers will not consent to their |
| The IID is a device that is installed in your vehicle | | | | vehicles being fitted with IID devices so that you |
| that requires you to blow into a machine that will | | | | can start the car. In addition to the |
| measure your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC). | | | | embarrassment associated with the act of |
| In other words, a breathalyzer. Vehicles that have | | | | blowing into the IID prior to ignition. It is likely that |
| an IID in place will require the driver to provide a | | | | you will be terminated. |
| sample of breath before the vehicle will start. The | | | | Finally, the cost of the IID device will also be a |
| IID will have a predetermined BAC level and if the | | | | burden on you. It is your responsibility financially to |
| sample of breath exceeds the predetermined | | | | have the system installed. The cost for the IID is |
| BAC level then the vehicle will not start. | | | | usually about $2.50 per day, plus an installation fee |
| The device is equipped with a log that stores the | | | | that will range from $75.00 to $100.00. |