Florida’s Ignition Interlock Program

Florida has hopped on the bandwagon of instituting an ignition interlock program for DUI offenders, joining 46 states and the District of Columbia in using these devices as a deterrent for repeat DUI offenders.

An ignition interlock device (IID) is like a breathalyzer machine installed onto the dashboard of a motor vehicle.  Before starting the car, the driver is required to breathe into the IID to demonstrate that there is little or no alcohol in their system.  In Florida, the maximum allowable amount programmed into the device is .05.  If alcohol is found in concentrations of .05 or more in the blood, the IID will prevent the vehicle from starting.

Additionally, at random times after the engine has been started, the IID will request another breath sample.  The driver will have up to three minutes to comply.  If the driver fails to comply, or their BAC is found above the maximum level, the IID will log the incident and issue a warning to the driver to turn the car off.  If the driver fails to heed this warning, the IID will induce an alarm until the ignition of the vehicle has been turned off.

The Florida IID program applies to those convicted after July 1, 2002.  Section 316.193 of Florida Statute lays out the IID requirements for persons convicted of DUI:

DUI Conviction	Minimum IID Requirement
First	Only if court-ordered
First (w/ BAC above .15 or a minor in the car)	6 months
Second	1 year
Second (w/ BAC above .15 or a minor in the car)	2 years
Third	2 years
Fourth or more	5 years

In the case of four or more convictions, the IID requirement only applies to those cases in which a hardship exemption is granted to the individual.  Otherwise, four or more DUI’s in Florida results in automatic revocation of the offender’s driver’s license.

The costs of an IID must be bore by the offender.  These include:

–       $87 for interlock and installation

–       $72.50 monthly fee for monitoring and calibration

–       $100 refundable deposit or $5 monthly insurance

This is a not insignificant sum, resulting in a minimum expense of $1,017 for a second offender.  These devices are also extremely sensitive, and something as trivial as having just used mouthwash with alcohol is enough to cause the device to lock up the vehicle.  IID are yet another means to extend statutory punishment for DUI’s well beyond the commission of the crime.