Ignition Interlock Device and DUI in Fort Myers, Florida
What is an Ignition Interlock Device?
An ignition interlock device is a device that a court can order you to use if you have been convicted of a DUI in Florida. This device prevents a vehicle from being started until the driver has passed a Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) breath test. It can be required if your DUI involved a .15 BAC or above and is mandatory in certain other situations. You are required to pay for its installation as well as a monthly monitoring fee.
Do courts in Fort Myers, Florida order the use of ignition interlock devices?
Yes, if you have been convicted of a DUI, a court can order the use of an ignition interlock device and this is one of the DUI penalties we see relatively frequently.
Often, this will be a condition that you will have to fulfill to regain the right to drive a vehicle. If you don’t have the ignition interlock device installed in your car, you won’t be legally allowed to drive.
A first time DUI conviction can result in a judge ordering an Ignition Interlock device for up to a year if your BAC was a .15 or above. A second DUI conviction could result in a judge ordering the installation of an ignition interlock device for up to two years, depending on the time between the previous DUI and your current DUI. In each of those cases, an ignition interlock is a mandatory part of the sentence.
If I got a DUI in Fort Myers, Florida, will I have to get an ignition interlock device?
As discussed above, if you are convicted of a DUI in Fort Myers, Florida, then it will depend on several specific circumstances. If you had a BAC over .15 or this is a second or more DUI then you likely will be ordered to have an ignition interlock device installed.
However, an experienced and qualified criminal defense attorney, like those at Peter M Dennis PA, can work to prevent you from having to get this costly and embarrassing device. Defending you from a trial conviction is one of the most effective ways to help you avoid the installation of an interlock. However, there are also some occasions where the prosecutor may agree to suppress your actual BAC amount, removing the requirement for an ignition interlock.
Experienced DUI Attorney – Fort Myers, Florida
Our Fort Myers DUI attorneys will defend you in court and work to get your charges reduced or dropped. We will also fight to get the minimum DUI penalties applied in your case.
We offer free consultations. GET THE HELP YOU NEED. CALL (230) 245-9911 NOW! This line is answered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
We are serving Fort Myers and surrounding cities and counties in Southwest, Florida such as Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres, Sanibel Island, Captiva Island, and Charlotte and Hendry counties.