As of July 2013, an ignition interlock device (IID) is more than just an instrument in a car.
Your Denver DUI attorney already prepares you to meet the terms and conditions of your DUI probation. That probation now includes the interlock enhancement counseling program, which takes aim at reducing the number of failed ignition interlock device starts, an indicator of possible repeat offenses.
The device locks the ignition of any car or other vehicle if there is a trace amount of alcohol in the BAC breath sample furnished before the operator turns the key. In addition, there are random “rolling tests” to ensure that the operator has not used someone else to start the car or that the operator is not drinking. Too many rolling refusals may result in the ignition being locked after the car stops.
IID counseling
Interlock enhancement counseling is a two-phase process. First, in the screening stage, a driver is evaluated and assigned a counselor and a specific treatment program. The education phase is a minimum of 10 hours of classes over five months. Some offenders may be required to complete an additional 10 hours based on the number of prior convictions and the BAC level involved in the offense.
In the five individual and four group sessions, counseling focuses on changing lifestyle habits to remove drinking and driving from the equation. Some common suggestions include:
- Having two or three potential designated drivers lined up to minimize the chances of driving while impaired
- Reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption, which usually involves addressing the question of why the offender drinks in the first place
- Changing the time, place and manner of alcohol consumption
DUI probation should be taken very seriously, as a failure to meet all conditions may result in jail time. Contact The Orr Law Firm for a free consultation with attorneys who understand the sophisticated nature of a 21st-century DUI prosecution.