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How Does a Car Breathalyzer Lockout Work?

You are here: Home / General Information / How Does a Car Breathalyzer Lockout Work?
August 26, 2016 by Editorial Staff

Your ignition interlock (car breathalyzer) is one of the best ways that you can resume your life after a DUI or drunk driving conviction. Generally paired with a restricted license, an ignition interlock gives you the freedom to drive to and from your place of employment (at the very least) and in many states, you may have to contend with restrictions on the time you are allowed to drive (like a Cinderella license). That all comes to a screeching halt, however, when you have a car breathalyzer lockout. A car breathalyzer lockout means you are over the BAC limit for your device. Your car breathalyzer has a specific limit it goes by to allow you to drive your vehicle. This limit is based on your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as measured by your breath sample. When you blow into the device, you are giving it all the information it needs to determine if you are too intoxicated to drive, a much lower limit than the legal BAC limit for a DUI. If your device is set at .02 percent BAC, for example, one drink could send your device into lockout mode, once you’ve gone through all of the additional prompts for a breath sample. You see, even your car breathalyzer wants you to have a chance to drive, and sometimes other alcohol-based products can affect the device. You get a few chances to prove you are under the pre-set limit before a car breathalyzer lockout. Once that happens, however, you will have to discuss the consequences with your ignition interlock service provider, the DMV and/or the court. A car breathalyzer lockout can end up being a violation of your interlock requirement, with penalties like more time added on to the requirement, or removal from the program entirely. Considering the trust placed in you with your restricted license and car breathalyzer after a DUI, it makes little sense to risk all that you’ve worked hard for by attempting to drink and drive again.Your ignition interlock (car breathalyzer) is one of the best ways that you can resume your life after a DUI or drunk driving conviction. Generally paired with a restricted license, an ignition interlock gives you the freedom to drive to and from your place of employment (at the very least) and in many states, you may have to contend with restrictions on the time you are allowed to drive (like a Cinderella license). That all comes to a screeching halt, however, when you have a car breathalyzer lockout.

A car breathalyzer lockout means you are over the BAC limit for your device.

Your car breathalyzer has a specific limit it goes by to allow you to drive your vehicle. This limit is based on your blood alcohol concentration (BAC) as measured by your breath sample. When you blow into the device, you are giving it all the information it needs to determine if you are too intoxicated to drive, a much lower limit than the legal BAC limit for a DUI. If your device is set at .02 percent BAC, for example, one drink could send your device into lockout mode, once you’ve gone through all of the additional prompts for a breath sample. You see, even your car breathalyzer wants you to have a chance to drive, and sometimes other alcohol-based products can affect the device. You get a few chances to prove you are under the pre-set limit before a car breathalyzer lockout.

Once that happens, however, you will have to discuss the consequences with your ignition interlock service provider, the DMV and/or the court.

A car breathalyzer lockout can end up being a violation of your interlock requirement, with penalties like more time added on to the requirement, or removal from the program entirely. Considering the trust placed in you with your restricted license and car breathalyzer after a DUI, it makes little sense to risk all that you’ve worked hard for by attempting to drink and drive again.

Category: General InformationTag: Car Breathalyzer, Drunk Driving, Ignition Interlock

About Editorial Staff

The editorial staff is a group of writers and contributors with wide-ranging areas of expertise. The editorial staff provides news and analysis of topics that are focused on community and driver safety.

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