DUI Breathalyzer

A DUI breathalyzer can be installed in your vehicle after a DUI/DWI offense. This device will allow your car to turn on, but only after you breathe into it, and it detects no alcohol — ensuring you are sober enough to drive. A breathalyzer also normally needs “rolling” samples after the vehicle is started to continue its operation.

A breathalyzer is also known as an IID (Ignition Interlock Device). Depending on your state’s laws and the results of your charges, the court will order you to have one installed in your car or not. You will also automatically get a breathalyzer if you plead guilty to your DUI/DWI charge.

An IID can also be your key to obtaining a hardship license. This allows some of your driving privileges to be restored. Though you can only go to essential places like work and school, it’s much better than not having the ability to drive at all. To drive legally, you’ll also need to acquire SR-22 insurance.

SR-22 insurance, a restricted license, and a breathalyzer often happen together. The breathalyzer ensures you are sober while driving and contributes to a case for good behavior while driving on the restricted license. This guide will explain everything you need to know about having a DUI breathalyzer and how to get SR-22 insurance to keep you on the road.

A breathalyzer is typically issued to drivers who have driven under the influence of alcohol or drugs. However, the laws in each state are different. The only way to fully know if you need a breathalyzer is to receive your official court orders after a DUI conviction.

Normally, if you plead guilty to a DUI, you will get a breathalyzer. The best way to proceed is to cooperate with the process and fulfill all court orders with diligence. Getting good legal counsel can also help produce the best results.

Whether you get a breathalyzer not, make a case for reinstating your driving privileges through a restricted license. It will enable you to qualify for SR-22 high-risk insurance, and you can restore some of your driving privileges.

Though you cannot drive everywhere, you can go to school, work, the hospital, child care, and back home. Many states require you to have car insurance to drive legally, so shop around at a few auto insurance companies to find the best quotes in your region.

Many states have IID laws that make it common to have one required in your vehicle — even after the first offense. In most cases, the driver must pay for the IID’s installation and maintenance.

Because it must be installed so that the driver can’t disconnect it, IIDs should be installed by a professional. If the driver attempts to remove the IID on their own, they could damage the device or vehicle in the process. Also, any tampering can result in the revocation of the restricted license and even a criminal charge.

The typical breathalyzer costs between $50-$150 to install. However, the costs add up with the monthly fees of monitoring and maintaining the IID. There can also be lease fees associated with the device. These costs average between $50-$150 monthly.

Before you get your restricted license, you must consider these costs along with the higher costs of SR-22 insurance. Though this tightens your budget for a while, it is temporary, and many people with DUIs find the value of driving worth the expense. When you don’t need the IID anymore, you will have to pay for its removal. The fee to remove the device is between $50 to $150, depending on the device and who does it for you.

If any of these costs regarding an IID are too high, there is possible financial assistance available. Ask your state about flexible payment plans to any discounts that are possible. For instance, some programs can make maintenance and monitoring cost as little as $3 a day. If you don’t know where to get your IID installed, start by comparing quotes online.

The length of time you need an IID depends on the unique circumstances of your case and what the law decides. Overall, the length of time that is required increases with the seriousness of your offense. First offenses are always treated more lightly than second or third offenses of the same type. For example, a first DUI might require six months with a breathalyzer. A second offense can require an IID period of several years.

The only way to get back to a normal license and driving style is to get through this breathalyzer period without incurring any incidents. Don’t try to activate the breathalyzer if you have been drinking alcohol. The maintenance and monitoring you do every month will pick up on when your breath triggered the car not to start.

Instead, do your best to arrange a safe ride and make a plan to always be sober behind the wheel. By having no incidents in presenting a positive behavior, you can make a strong case for full license restoration when you next go to court. Any infraction you have during your probation period can have serious consequences and prolong your need for a breathalyzer. Be proactive and make smart choices during this time so you can get back to normal driving as soon as possible.

In most states, when you are caught driving with a blood-alcohol level (BAC) of .08% or higher, you will go to jail and get your license taken away. You’ll then get a temporary license and need to request a court hearing to prevent an automatic license suspension. At your court hearing, you will get the full details of what to expect.

You may be required to do community service, serve more jail time, be charged fines, and get your license suspended. However, if this is your first offense or it has been a long time since your previous DUI, you can make a case for installing an IID in your vehicle and getting your driving privileges restored with a restricted license.

If this is allowed, you must contact the DMV as soon as possible and work on finding SR-22 insurance. Your insurance agent will put the SR-22 document on file and send it to the DMV and all the necessary parties. When you see that your status online is okay to drive, you can go to essential places on your restricted license.

An SR-22 is a certificate of financial responsibility. It can be issued to drivers for a variety of offenses such as failure to pay insurance, driving without insurance and getting into an accident, repeat traffic offenses, and DUIs. When you have an SR-22 attached to your insurance policy, it means you have the required liability coverage for your vehicle. This is also considered a high-risk insurance plan.

SR-22 insurance policies cost more than standard auto insurance policies. It’s also more difficult to find a service carrier that offers SR-22 insurance. If you need to attach this document to your plan, there is a chance your current insurance provider cannot offer you this product. In this case, you should call an insurance agent. Not only will you be able to guarantee that you will get SR-22 insurance, but you will also be able to compare multiple rates at the same time, so you don’t have to settle for the first price you see.

After you get SR-22 insurance through an insurance carrier, your agent will send this documentation to the DMV. It serves as proof that you have insurance so you can get your restricted license back. Before this, you will have a suspended license and not be able to drive legally. It may take a while for this documentation to register on the DMV website, so don’t start driving the moment you file. Contact the DMV and your insurance company to make sure you are eligible to drive again and that your insurance policy is active.

Finding an SR-22 insurance policy can be exhausting when you check individual insurance carriers. Instead of stressing out, contact our insurance partner today at 877-822-2049 to get the best deal on high-risk insurance so we can help you get back on the road as soon as possible.