IGNITION INTERLOCK DEVICE (IID) LAWS IN GEORGETOWN, TX

Throughout the United States, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. While each state enforces different laws and imposes different penalties, the DWI laws in Texas are fairly straightforward. According to Section 49.04 of the Texas Penal Code, you can be arrested for driving while intoxicated if your blood alcohol concentration reaches or exceeds .08%, and you attempt to get behind the wheel. The penalties imposed by the court will depend on the number of times you have previously been convicted for DWI, as well as other aggravating factors.

For example, a first-time DWI offense will typically result in 72 hours to 6 months in jail, a fine of up to $2,000 and a license suspension of 90 days to one year; however, the court may also require you to have an ignition interlock device installed in your car as soon as your period of suspension has elapsed. An ignition interlock device, or IID, is a mechanism that measures a driver’s blood alcohol levels before the vehicle’s motor can be started. It is usually placed on the dashboard. If the driver has had too much to drink, the ignition interlock device would prohibit the driver from turning on the car.

As mentioned earlier, the IID will require the driver to provide a breath sample before they are able to start the engine of their vehicle. Certain precautionary measures have also been taken to ensure that the driver is the one who is actually providing the sample. For example, the IID will often require you to provide additional samples at random times once the engine has been started. If a breath sample is not provided, the device will log the event and start up an alarm. The only way to turn off the alarm would be to turn off the car—effectively prohibiting a potentially intoxicated driver from going any further.

If you have been arrested for, and charged with, a driving while intoxicated (DWI) offense, it is imperative that you seek counsel from an experienced criminal defense lawyer in Georgetown as soon as possible. The consequences of a DWI conviction can follow you around for the rest of your life, so it may be in your best interest to secure an aggressive defense while there is still time. Fortunately, it won’t cost you a thing to get in touch with my firm. When you call today at (888) 535-7627, you can take advantage of a free, no-obligation consultation. Help is just a phone call away; call now!