Ignition Interlock Devices and Florida Law

Drinking and driving is a national concern, and efforts to prevent DUI accidents have spanned many decades. Ignition interlock is an important tool used by officials to prevent repeat offenses by restricting driving activity by an intoxicated individual. To start a vehicle equipped with this system, an individual must breathe into an apparatus that assesses blood alcohol levels. Intoxication should prevent driving. Florida drivers could be subject to this requirement based on state laws, which are typically connected to prior DUI offenses or certain mitigating factors during a first offense.

A Florida driver could be required to use an ignition interlock system for a minimum of one year at the time of a second drunk driving conviction. A two-year ignition interlock requirement is typically imposed for one’s third conviction, but this penalty could also be used with fewer convictions in connection with serious mitigating circumstances.

In instances involving a DUI while a minor is a passenger, a first offense involves six months of ignition interlock. A second similar offense requires a two-year ignition interlock period. In DWI cases leading to probation, the device is required for a minimum of six months. Medical issues could provide an avenue of seeking an exemption to ignition interlock penalties.

A person who has been charged with driving under the influence might want to meet with a criminal defense attorney as soon as possible in order to discuss how best to combat the allegations. In some cases, the attorney can look at whether the traffic stop itself was made without the required reasonable suspicion while in others, the attorney could challenge the way that the breath test was administered.