Will I Have to Install an Ignition Interlock Device After OWI?

 Posted on November 24, 2020 in DUI/OWI

If you have been arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated in Wisconsin, you probably have several questions. You may be unsure of whether you will lose your driving privileges, be required to install a breath ignition interlock device (IID) on your vehicle, or face jail time for drunk driving. The answers to these questions depend on the circumstances of the offense, whether or not you avoid conviction, your past criminal history, and other factors.  

What Is an IID?

An ignition interlock device is a device used to measure the amount of alcohol in someone’s breath. This information is then used to determine the person’s blood alcohol content (BAC). Once an IID is installed in a vehicle, the ignition will only engage after the driver submits a passing breath sample into the device. If the driver’s breath does not contain alcohol, the car will start normally. If the driver’s breath does contain alcohol, the vehicle will not start. There are many myths surrounding how to “cheat” an IID. However, IIDs are carefully calibrated, sophisticated devices that cannot be tricked. Using breath mints, eating certain foods, and other strategies for cheating an IID do not work.

When Is an IID Required?

The purpose of an ignition interlock device is to prevent an OWI offender from reoffending. If you are convicted of OWI for the first time, you may not have to install an IID. However, if your BAC was 0.15 percent or higher at the time of your arrest, an IID is mandatory. IIDs are required for a second or subsequent OWI convictions in Wisconsin. You will also be required to have an IID installed in your vehicle if you refused to submit to a breath test or “Breathalyzer” during the traffic stop in which you were accused of driving drunk.

If you are required to install an IID, you are prohibited from operating a vehicle without the device installed on it. Failure to install an IID or attempting to remove, disconnect, or otherwise tamper with the device can result in a six-month extension of the IID requirement.

Contact a Milwaukee Criminal Defense Lawyer

If you have been arrested and charged with operating while intoxicated (OWI) or driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI), you could face significant penalties, including loss of driving privileges and jail time. Contact a skilled Milwaukee County OWI defense attorney from Bucher Law Group, LLC for help building a strong defense against these serious criminal charges. Call our office today at 262-303-4916 to schedule your free, confidential initial consultation.

Source:
https://wisconsindot.gov/Pages/dmv/license-drvs/susp-or-rvkd/owi.aspx