Ignition Interlock Devices in Connecticut

The state of Connecticut now approves Intoxalock for its ignition interlock devices. Also, we are recommending them to users over other services. Learn more by visiting their page.

If you are caught drinking and driving, one punishment is having an ignition interlock device installed in your car. This device will lock your steering wheel when you get into your car. In order to start your car, you have to blow into a tube that will read your blood alcohol content. If your blood alcohol content level is lower than the state limit, the device will recognize this. Then, your car will start. However, if your blood alcohol content level is too high, the device will continue to lock your steering wheel. Then you will not be able to drive. In order to participate in this program, you must fulfill certain requirements.

What is the IID?

The purpose of an IID is to ensure the driver of the vehicle cannot operate the vehicle when their breath as registered by the device is higher that the state limit. For those 21 and older in their personal vehicles (in Connecticut) that means a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) of .08% or higher. For CDL holders driving a commercial vehicle, the limit is .04% or higher. Finally, for those under 21 it is .02% or higher.

To start the car, the vehicle operator has to blow into the device, typically for a few seconds or long enough for the device to register your BAC. Once this is successfully done, the vehicle will start.

It is important to note that several failed attempts (depending on the specific device you have installed) will lock the device. In this case, you will have to wait some time before attempting to start the vehicle again. The idea behind the IID is simple – it is supposed to keep those that have consumed alcohol from starting the car. The IID also prevents those who are driving already not to continue consuming alcoholic beverages..

Once the vehicle is started, the IID will periodically perform “random rolling tests.” What this means is that every now and then while the vehicle is in operation, the device will prompt the driver to pull over and give a breath sample. Typically, if the driver ignores this retest protocol the device will sound an alarm until the driver pulls over and completes the test. If this retest is failed, like the original test, the car will be inoperable until a successful breath sample is taken.

Using Your IID

Understanding how the device operates is only half the battle with utilizing an IID. This is because certain behaviors, although perfectly normal and legal, can cause a false alcohol reading within your IID. Although the devices are supposed to be calibrated to minimize this from happening, it still good practice to understand how you can minimize this error.

Some of these practices are:

• Not using hand sanitizer in the vehicle.
• Not using mouth wash/freshener right before testing.
• Do not unintentionally tamper with device, perhaps while doing other vehicle work.
• Be mindful of any medical issues (including some dental work).
• Having other very intoxicated people in the vehicle.

When the device reads a false positive from alcohol because one of these things, it is important to immediately remove the reason behind the possible reading and try again, or in general avoid these things while needing to operate the IID. If these false readings continue to occur, the operator should bring the IID to the service vendor for servicing. If failed results have been submitted to the DMV you should contact them or a criminal defense attorney such as Ruane Attorneys to assist you with the matter.

Issues can occur because the device, while intended to be very accurate, does not have the ability to determine where the alcohol potency is coming from. As a result, the IID sometimes thinks that the alcohol is on your breath from drinking and this just might not be accurate. Remember, items like mouthwash and hand sanitizer are very strong in alcohol content and if the IID picks this up it will think it is because you have been drinking.

Servicing the IID

Having the device in your car is not enough to satisfy the requirement imposed by the Department of Motor Vehicles. You are also responsible for having the device calibrated every 30 days. The operator is responsible for any fees associated with this. Depending on if the device is purchased or leased, these fees may be part of the leasing fee or purchase price. Check with your vendor on these fees when getting price quotes.

These calibrations are NOT optional. They are required by the state. When the device is calibrated, the facility calibrating it notifies the DMV that it has done so. Failure for this process to occur will result in a new license suspension.

Ignition Interlock Program

If you want to participate in this program, you have to send $175 to the Department of Motor Vehicles. This money will get used for the required restoration fee. You also have to be able to prove that you have a valid license and registration. This means that if your license gets suspended, you can’t apply for the program until after the suspension.

You can only apply to the ignition interlock program if you got convicted of vehicular manslaughter, vehicular assault, or an OUI. You must also have served the required license suspension for each of these crimes, respectively. For vehicular manslaughter, this suspension is for one year. For vehicular assault, the suspension lasts one year, and for an OUI, the license suspension is 45 days. All license suspension issues must get resolved before you can apply to the program.

Application

An administration fee of $100 should get submitted. Also, you should submit the ignition interlock device installation application. This can get sent to:
Department of Motor Vehicles
Driver Services Division
60 State Street
Wethersfield, Connecticut 06161-2525
If you are approved to become part of the program, an ignition interlock device must be installed on all vehicles that you own. If you want to install a device on a car that you do not own, the owner must fill out an additional application.

The Device

Once your license suspension is lifted, you will have to apply to get an interlock ignition device. You can apply for such a device through the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV). This device will generally be installed in your car. It typically goes in the glove compartment or somewhere on the passenger’s side of your vehicle. The interlock ignition device will be connected to the ignition system in your engine.

The interlock ignition device will come with a handheld alcohol sensor, which is usually attached to a car’s dashboard. Every time that you want to start your car, you must first blow approximately 1.5 liters of air into this alcohol sensor unit. A limit will be set on this alcohol sensor unit, and if your blood alcohol content (BAC) is higher than this limit, the car will not start. The BAC limit will vary, however, it is usually somewhere between .02% and .04%. Your BAC limit is monitored by a computer chip within the device. If your BAC is over the limit set by the device, this information will be stored and can be used by law enforcement in future cases against you. The computer chip will also monitor if the device has been tampered with.

Rolling Tests

Some interlock ignition devices also give rolling tests. These are tests that occur at random intervals while you are driving. These tests will occur from about five to 30 minutes once the car has started. This is meant to prevent you from consuming alcohol while driving in your car. It also deters you from having a sober friend blow into the interlock ignition device to start the car.
If you do not provide a breath sample during a rolling test, or if your BAC is higher than the limit that the interlock ignition device is set at, a warning alarm will go off. This warning can vary from your headlights blinking to your car horn honking until you turn the ignition off. At this point, you will have to manually turn off the engine because the interlock ignition device cannot shut down your car once it has been started.

Maintenance

Maintenance is performed on your interlock ignition device monthly. The data logs in the device will be downloaded and recorded during this maintenance. The police will be able to monitor how many times you passed or failed the BAC test, as well as if you failed rolling tests. Therefore, if you have an interlock ignition device, make sure that you can pass the test every time you want to drive.

Consult a CT Lawyer on IIDs

Whether you have questions about the underlying DUI charge, or how to navigate the process of getting an IID and maintaining it, Ruane Attorneys is here to help. Give our office a call for a free consultation regarding your DUI case or to discuss your IID.