Colorado imposes additional penalties if you are charged with drunk driving (DUI/DWAI) and your blood alcohol content (BAC) is more than the DUI legal limit of .08, or even worse if it is .15 or higher. One of these penalties is the required installation of an ignition interlock device (IID) that requires you to measure your BAC before starting the car and again while you are driving. The device works similarly to an Intoxilyzer.
In addition to having this device installed on every vehicle you own, you are required to pay both for the installation and for the monitoring. Having an IID installed for at least two years if your BAC is .15 or higher, you refused to submit to a chemical test or you are a repeat offender, is usually a condition of having your license revocation lifted. Not only is the IID expensive, it also leaves you vulnerable to additional legal problems. It is important to discuss your options with an experienced attorney.
Denver DUI lawyer James L. Finegan assists clients who are required to install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles. He focuses on helping them when they are charged with violating the IID requirements, a charge that can lead to additional license revocation, jail time and other penalties.
With more than 35 years of legal experience, James L. Finegan understands the law and is zealous when helping clients address problems caused by the ignition interlock device. The firm defends clients against DUI charges in metro Denver and throughout Jefferson County.
In some instances, it may be impossible to comply with the requirements. The IID may be incorrectly calibrated. It may break or malfunction in some way. If you register a positive reading because of defects in the device, there are a number of consequences. The most immediate result is that your car will not start and the failure will be reported, exposing you to additional charges and additional license suspension.
Other causes of false positives are medications, mouthwash or food. It is important to have a knowledgeable lawyer examine the situation and ensure that the IID is calibrated correctly and that the positive reading was not due to food, beverages or other factors.
For more information about IIDs, contact attorney James L. Finegan at(303) 980-5511. You may also contact him via email to schedule a free initial consultation.