Drinking and driving is a mistake, and getting a driving under the influence (DUI) charge is a huge headache for an individual, from the legal ramifications to the embarrassment involved. If you are a first time DUI charge offender, you may be frustrated and confused on what your next steps are, from paying court fines to researching car breathalyzer prices. Unfortunately, chances are you have had an ignition interlock system installed in your vehicle, where you are required to prove you are sober before your vehicle will start. If you are unsure of what these are or how they work, see below.
A car breathalyzer is installed in the vehicle of someone with a DUI charge to make sure they are not drinking before they start their vehicle. The driver must breathe into the device so it can determine if the blood alcohol content (BAC) in your system is too high. The acceptable BAC in each state for unlocking a car breathalyzer varies, but the national BAC limit to legally drive is .08%. If the car breathalyzer device detects a higher BAC than what is acceptable, it will lock your vehicle’s ignition and make it inoperable for anywhere from five to thirty minutes, at which point you may try to breathe again.
Recovering from getting a DUI is fairly easy, as long as you attend the proper classes, set up payment plans for or pay off your fines, and do not try to cheat your breathalyzer. Many devices may require what is called a rolling retest, which is where the breathalyzer prompts you to blow into the device while in motion. If you fail this blow, either because you had someone blow for you or because you have been drinking since the vehicle was turned on, alarms, horns and lights on the vehicle will turn on until you pull over and power off the engine.
You may be interested in installing a device before you even have a DUI charge. This is often the case for parents of college and teen drivers, and adults who enjoy social drinking but want to remain a safe driver. If this is the case, keep in mind that leased car breathalyzer prices vary from $70 to $100 a month, and may vary based on the make and model of your vehicle. Installing an ignition interlock system before you experience a DUI charge is a smart way to avoid a whole process of costs and litigations.
For those who are using the device as part of rehabilitation following a DUI charge, the car breathalyzer prices are often incorporated into your court fees, depending on your state. These fees, however, are a small price to pay in comparison to making the mistake of driving intoxicated and putting yourself, and others, at risk.