Can DUIs in Houston, TX Be Prevented by Ignition Interlock Devices?

21
Apr
By:

Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a strong advocate of mandatory ignition interlock devices for all motorists. According to MADD, every state has some type of ignition interlock device, but only 28 states require ignition interlock devices after every conviction for impaired driving. In an effort to bolster its argument, MADD commissioned a study to determine how many drunk driving attempts were thwarted by the use of ignition interlock device.

Texas DUI AttorneyAccording to The Houston Chronicle, more than 27,000 attempts to drive drunk in Texas were prevented by the use of ignition interlock devices. Texas is already one of the states with strong ignition interlock device laws, as the law was changed in 2015 to allow judges to order the use of an ignition interlock device for all convicted offenders.

MADD’s new information is likely to reinforce the idea that widespread IID use is effective at stopping people from driving drunk. This means any motorist who is accused of drunk driving in Texas could potentially face the cost, hassle, and embarrassment of having to use an ignition interlock device. If you do not want to have such a device on your car, you’ll need to aggressively fight to avoid conviction if you are charged with a drunk driving offense. An attorney can help.

How Ignition Interlock Devices Affect Your Life 

Ignition interlock devices could potentially be required to be installed in any vehicle which a person convicted of DUI drives on a regular basis. The DUI offender must pay for the installation of these devices and for ongoing costs associated with them. The device requires the driver to blow into the device before starting the car to determine if his blood alcohol concentration is above the allowable limit. Because the car will not start until the device measures a motorist’s BAC, any person who uses the car with an ignition interlock device is going to have to blow into it.

When MADD’s report indicates 27,000 attempts to drive drunk were stopped, the report means there were 27,000 situations in which someone blew into an installed ignition interlock device and the BAC reading was too high so the car wouldn’t start driving. MADD’s report also looked at thwarted drunk driving attempts in other states and discovered an estimated 2.3 million attempts at drunk driving were stopped because of these devices.

States, including Texas, pass strict laws in their efforts to stop impaired motorists from operating vehicles. If ignition interlock devices are effective at preventing motorists from operating a vehicle while impaired, as this recent research suggests, lawmakers will continue to ensure DUI penalties can include installation of ignition interlock devices in as many situations as possible following conviction.

There may be no way to avoid an IID if you are convicted of DUI in Texas. It’s imperative for those accused of drunk driving to contact an experienced criminal defense lawyer as soon as possible.

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