After a DUI conviction in California, you may have been ordered to install a car breathalyzer or ignition interlock device by the court. In most cases, your DUI is seen as a lapse in judgment, and because you still have to work and be able to take care of your family and personal obligations, the ignition interlock device restores your freedom to drive while keeping you from another DUI mistake. But, installing the device is not the only way to get back on California’s roads; you also have to reinstate your driver’s license if it was taken during your DUI arrest..
Reinstating your driver’s license in California requires more than just an ignition interlock installation. In order to prove you are no longer a safety risk, you must also do the following:
- Obtain a SR-22, or the certificate that says your insurance company is willing to vouch for your ability to be a safe driver.
- Pay your fines and court costs.
- Enroll in a DUI program immediately and have your Proof of Enrollment Certificate filed with the DMV.
- Apply for your license reinstatement.
- Pay the license reinstatement fee.
- Bring your SR-22, proof that you paid your fines and court costs, the DUI program enrollment certificate and the paperwork from your ignition interlock installation to the DMV.
When you fulfill all of these requirements, you have the best possible chance to reinstate your license with the DMV, as well as fully recover from your DUI conviction. An ignition interlock is a trusted method to keep you sober behind the wheel, but, if you are not driving legally, the device will not be enough to keep you from further consequences and restrictions on your license. Get your license back, and make sure you follow the full guidelines of your ignition interlock requirement, and you’ll be back on the road sooner than you think.
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