When you have a DUI or drunk driving conviction in Washington State, you also have an ignition interlock requirement. You’re pretty lucky, as there are states in which you face different restrictions, including a suspended license and no ability to drive yourself around. Still, ignition interlock devices are seen as an inconvenience, something to just deal with, not a quick solution to maintaining life as it was before a DUI.

That’s probably how this guy forgot he was tampering with his Washington State ignition interlock device.

In case anyone else experiences this same memory loss, perhaps it is best to remind the public that tampering with an ignition interlock device is a crime. Crimes carry criminal penalties. In this case, the Washington state ignition interlock tampering will result in a suspension or revocation of your driver’s license. Your one-year ignition interlock requirement will no longer count toward the penalties placed upon you when convicted of your DUI. You will not be able to drive, even with the ignition interlock device, until your full driver’s license suspension is up.

You could also have more penalties, like another DUI charge, depending on the circumstances surrounding the ignition interlock tampering. Washington state requires ignition interlock devices for all drunk driving convictions. If that is not enough to get you to call for a safe ride home, think of the potential you have to destroy the lives of others… all because you refused to admit you were not okay to drive.

Frankly stated, when you have an ignition interlock requirement, the easiest way to get your life back is to just use the device as instructed, for as long as you are required to do so. Once you have completed the time, you can then look forward to completely restoring your freedom and independence, with a much better understanding of the reasons we do not drive under the influence of alcohol.

DUI laws have existed in the United States since 1910. New York and New Mexico paved the way for other states to begin passing laws regulating what should happen to those operating conveyances under the influence of alcohol. Now all 50 states have DUI laws that regulate everything from underage drunk drivers to dealing with aggravating circumstances.

Aggravated DUI laws come into play in most states at a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15%, some states have higher BAC levels, and drastically increase punishments. In several states, an aggravated DUI is automatically considered a felony, even for a first offense. A West Virginia aggravated DUI charge occurs at .15% and it is considered a misdemeanor level offense unless there are previous DUI convictions or other aggravating factors, such as a DUI accident related death or serious injury.

A West Virginia aggravated DUI conviction increases the state’s mandatory minimum penalties for a regular DUI, which include both administrative and criminal penalties. Administrative penalties include the automatic suspension of your license at the scene of the DUI traffic stop. You will be granted 30 days in which to request a hearing to fight the administrative license suspension. Criminal penalties include:

●       Jail time: There’s no mandatory minimum for a first offense, unless you are charged with a West Virginia Aggravated DUI which carries a minimum of 48 hours in jail with up to 6 months as the maximum.

●       Fines of $100-$500 plus court costs or $100-$1,000 plus court costs if it’s an aggravated DUI.

●       License suspended for 15-45 days as long as you install an ignition interlock device (IID) that will be required for 125 days or 6 months without an IID. If you refuse BAC testing your license will be suspended for a year with the possibility of an ignition interlock device after 45 days.

Penalties for DUIs are serious and have long-reaching consequences. Regardless of your location in the United States, laws governing DUIs are strict and meant to discourage offenders from ever getting behind the wheel. 

Nobody sets out to be a drunk driver, but each day people still find themselves in trouble for operating while intoxicated. An Iowa OWI is no walk in the park. A first offense may not have life-shaking penalties, but it is designed to ensure you think twice before you head out for a night of drinking.

Iowa OWI law says it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle in Iowa under the following conditions:

• While under the influence of an alcoholic beverage, drugs or a combination of both substances.
• While having a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or more.
• While having any amount of a drug, intoxicating substance or controlled substance in one’s body.

First offense Iowa OWI consequences include:

• Misdemeanor criminal record.
• Up to one hear in jail, 48 hours minimum.
• Up to $1,250 in fines.
• Possible community service.
• Enrollment in a substance abuse evaluation and treatment program.

One thing that could make all the difference in moving past your Iowa OWI is qualifying for a restricted driver’s license by installing an ignition interlock device. The state does not require interlocks for a first offense OWI, but you do have the option to install the device after serving 90 days of your license suspension.

There is one easy solution to avoiding all of the trouble that goes along with a first offense Iowa OWI. If you know you will be drinking, then you can make a plan for a safe ride home as part of your celebration. It takes only a few minutes to get your ride in place, and when you wake up the next day, safely in your own bed, you’ll be a lot happier for taking that time.

Happy Memorial Day! This is one of the biggest weekends of the summer for road travel, whether you’re heading to the beach for a mini-vacation with your kids or a romantic getaway with your main squeeze. The three-day weekend practically screams it is time to get away, but that also means there are plenty of other drivers on the road heading the same direction as you are.

Staying safe this Memorial Day means you may need:

• A vehicle tune up. Being on the road after a long winter can take a toll on your vehicle. Make sure you’re in good shape before heading out in the family car for the break.
• To obey the rules of the road. This means you need to wear your seat belt, and so does everyone else in the car. Don’t speed and allow additional time due to busy roads.
• A promise to never drink and drive. A DUI is the last type of memory you want at any time of the year. Starting off the summer with a drunk driving charge (or worse) is nobody’s idea of a party, and you’ll likely end up with more than an ignition interlock device as a result.

Remember that Memorial Day also requires many more law enforcement officers on the roads, whether patrolling for drunk drivers, operating DUI checkpoints or just driving during the normal course of the day. Those men and women especially deserve to be safe, considering the risks they take each day protecting our lives and families.

There will be plenty of chances to get away over the summer, and there’s no reason to risk your life or the lives of others by being in a hurry to get out of town. Remember that no matter what time of the year it is, we should always do our best to remain safe when driving, ensuring that we get to our destinations, and allowing that same respect to other drivers on the road.

If you are a parent, or just an adult with eyes, you’ve probably made some sort of “get off my lawn” comment about teenagers and their smartphones. We get it. We grew up without seat belts and staying outside until the street lights came on. Today’s kids have different challenges and better tools to get around those challenges. No more boredom waiting for appetizers to be served, or time wasted staring at the giant TV screen, right? Actually, some of those pesky kids are doing some great things while staring at those tiny screens: preventing Colorado DUI disasters.

Not only did these two Colorado teens invent an app to help reduce Colorado DUIs, they also got to the heart of the problem for many DUI drivers: leaving their car at the scene of their intoxication. Research shows that for many, leaving their vehicle at a bar or restaurant is one of the biggest reasons they will opt to drive home themselves. Intoxicated judgment says that it will be a hassle to come back and get their car the next day, and it’s just a few miles away or they’ll take the back roads. Intoxicated reality says that’s a definite DUI disaster waiting to happen, with an ignition interlock device as the best case scenario. By pairing up (armed with a smartphone), this duo is getting Colorado DUI drivers home safely, and their vehicles, too.

Say what you want about those smartphone-staring teens, you gotta hand it to these two for using that neck-cranking stare for good, not evil. Not only is technology becoming one of the strongest tools in the battle against drunk driving, but it is also empowering our youth to make a difference, too. Colorado DUI prevention isn’t just up to law enforcement, but to anyone who can step up and give people safe options. When we all work together, we can make a big difference in lives, even in the lives of people we may never meet.